15 young chefs celebrated their graduation from the Junior Chefs’ Academy programme at the South Eastern Regional College, Downpatrick, on Saturday 5 December.
People 1st the sector skills council for the hospitality and tourism industry has partnered with Compass Group UK and Ireland, part of the worlds largest catering company to build the skills of future young chefs through the Junior Chefs’ Academy. The programme is currently funded by the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) and is an industry led initiative supported locally by The Institute of Hospitality, the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Safefood and City and Guilds.
The 15 graduates aged 12 to 16, from local schools all attended South Eastern Regional College’s Downpatrick Campus and were presented with medals and certificates by guest of honour and Junior Chefs’ Academy supporter, Kevin Smith, General Manager, Ten Square Hotel, Belfast.
Congratulating all young Junior Chefs graduating from the six regional colleges Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey said:
“I want to commend People 1st on the success of the Junior Chefs’ Academy. The Hospitality Sector is very important to the economy of Northern Ireland and the Junior Chefs’ Academy is part of the Departmental Future Skills Action Plan.
“I recently had the privilege of experiencing the success of Junior Chefs' Academy by sampling food cooked by 12 young people from the programme.
“I understand that several students from Junior Chefs' Academy have already progressed to further education to pursue their careers in the industry and I wish them well.
“I am therefore particularly pleased to learn that Compass has agreed to sponsor the Junior Chefs’ Academy for a further 2 years from June 2010.
This demonstrates a huge endorsement and commitment from the private sector for this very successful initiative.
“I wish everyone associated with the programme every success for the future.”
David Smith, Director of Learning and Customer Support had this to say; “I am delighted to welcome our Junior Chefs to today’s graduation ceremony. The meal prepared by the budding young chefs was testament to the culinary skills they learnt during the ten week programme. It is refreshing to see so many young people from secondary and grammar schools throughout Downpatrick attend this course. I’m sure everyone in attendance would agree that the Junior Chef programme has been a great success. I would like to extend my congratulations to everyone who took part, well done.”
Over a 10 week period on Saturday mornings the young boys and girls learned about basic cookery whilst creating fresh dishes and gained knowledge on nutrition, hygiene, health and safety, team work, communication skills and an appreciation of real food and healthy eating.
All this hard work culminated in a graduation event when the young people cooked a special lunch for family, friends and key sponsors at the Colleges’ Downpatrick Campus. Special guests included Kevin Smith, General Manager of Ten Square Hotel, Alison Crothers, Head Chef and Proprietor of the Bucks Head, Kevin Samsong, Head Chef of Burrendale Hotel, Steven Pollock, Head Chef for Bank of Ireland and Dermot Hughes, Head Chef of Magherabuoy House Hotel.
The aim of the programme, pioneered in England for seven years by Compass, is to encourage more young people to consider a career as a chef. Research with local employers carried out by People 1st identified a lack of technically skilled chefs as a barrier to filling vacancies and effective performance.
A new Junior Chefs’ Academy programme will begin in the Bangor Campus of the College in January.