Who's who

Training on the job

Aramark
Key chefs get the opportunity to train alongside some of the UK's finest and through the International Guest Chef Exchange can swap places with colleagues to learn new skills and gain experience overseas. Closer to home, the Culinary University offers a range of courses aimed at brushing up skills and developing new ones. There are opportunities to be part of the Gordon Ramsay Training Programme or learn specialist skills at the Asian & Oriental School of Cookery.
Tel: 020 7963 0018
E-mail: recruitment@aramark.co.uk
Website: www.aramark.co.uk

Chef & Brewer
Induction course; day-release NVQ levels 1, 2 and 3 for chefs nominated by their head chef; a series of workshops covering food safety and first aid, plus a scheme whereby trainers work with chefs in their own pubs. TV chef Tony Tobin runs "Fundamental Workshops" to discuss new ideas and encourage creativity in the kitchen. Competitions include a Chef of the Year, which has been running for six years.
Tel: 01283 545320
Website: www.thespiritgroup.com

Conran Group
The Conran Group, which has 30 restaurants, has a chef-apprenticeship programme aimed at school- and college-leavers, and a chef-development programme for newly qualified apprentices to progress up to head chefs.
Tel: 020 7716 0716
Website: www.conran.com

Geronimo Inns
On the job. Talented chefs can expect to be developed to the next level within 18 months
The East Hill, 21 Alma Road, London SW18 3AA
Website: www.geronimo-inns.co.uk

Greene King
Structured and on-the-job training. Competitions include the Annual Chef Academy to investigate new craft skills, menu planning and management. Celebrity chef Phil Vickery demonstrates dishes.
Tel: 01284 763222
Website: www.greeneking.co.uk

JD Wetherspoon
Kitchen managers are offered the following training: food hygiene and health & safety; kitchen training; customer management; personnel policies and procedures; people skills; interview skills; stock management; rota-planning; business management and the National Licensee's Certificate
Tel: 0870 243 8243
Website: www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk

Savoy Hotel
The Savoy has linked up with the Hotel and Catering Training Company to start an in-house chefs' apprenticeship scheme. It lasts for three years and takes chefs through to NVQ levels 2 and 3.
Contact: Louisa Saville
Tel: 020 7420 2425
Website: www.the-savoy.com

Sodexho
Chefs working for the caterer's fine-dining arm, Directors Table, now have the chance to train under master chef Anton Edelmann. He runs an academy at the group's London restaurant, Allium, training chefs in menu development and kitchen management.
Tel: 020 8763 1212
Website: www.sodexho-uk.com

Whitbread
Whitbread Chef Modern Apprenticeship programme, NVQ level three, for under-24s. Two-year course runs in conjunction with 31 colleges across the country. Four days a week in a Whitbread kitchen and one day in college. Chefs take part in national competitions such as Design a Dish or try for selection for the Craft Guild of Chefs team heading for Culinary Olympics
Tel: 020 7606 4455
Website: www.whitbread.co.uk


Colleges

Bournemouth and Poole College
Winner of the 2001 National Training Award. Old-style apprenticeships, with the student being sponsored by an employer where they remain throughout the four-year course for their work-based training. NVQ levels 2 and 3 in Food Preparation and Cookery, together with the CIEH Basic Food Hygiene Certificate, CIEH Health and Safety Certificate, and a Royal Society of Arts French for Catering Certificate
Tel: 01202 205836/205838
E-mail: jbrett@bpc.ac.uk
Website: www.bpc.ac.uk

Thames Valley University
The Specialised Chefs' Programme works on the same principal as the Bournemouth and Poole College scheme. The three-year day-release course follows NVQ to levels 2, 3 and 4, and concludes with an Academy of Culinary Arts Diploma Examination in Professional Cookery. Sponsorships are available from the Hospitality Training Foundation.
Tel: 020 8231 2985
E-mail: malcolm.gee@tvu.ac.uk
Website: www.tvu.ac.uk

Further information on colleges
Springboard UK provides training advice mainly to school leavers and younger students, but the website can help you find a suitable course or college at any age (go into Career Compass Finder and have a browse).
Website: www.springboarduk.org.uk

Associations

Academy of Culinary Arts
One of the most important objectives of the academy is to attract young people into the industry and to motivate them through education and training. The academy offers specialised chefs courses as well as various awards schemes, such as the Annual Awards of Excellence and the Master of Culinary Arts.
Tel: 020 8673 6300
E-mail: info@academyofculinaryarts.org.uk
Website: www.academyofculinaryarts.org

Craft Guild of Chefs
This organisation has been going for nearly 40 years and offers advice and information on training and development as well as a list of specialised chef training schools and cookery courses. It also runs a number of respected awards.
Tel: 020 8948 3870
E-mail: sbarshall@craft-guild.org
Website: www.craft-guild.org

Federation of Chefs Scotland
The federation promotes excellence in professional cookery and supports the Scottish Culinary Team, which represents Scotland at international competitions throughout the world (it is currently ranked in the top 10 of international culinary teams). It's also a member of the World Association of Cooks Societies (WACS).
Website: www.scottishchefs.com

The Master Chefs of Great Britain
Founded in 1980 to provide a forum for the exchange of culinary ideas and to further the profession through training and guidance to young chefs. It also promotes the best of British cuisine and the produce available in this country to both the chef and the consumer.
Tel: 01935 851414
Website: www.masters-table.co.uk

HCIMA
Provides information on how to further your career as well as organising various awards, such as the Roux Scholarship.
Tel: 020 8661 4900
Website: www.hcima.org.uk