Fine Cuisine Showcases Apprentices' Skill
11 February 2011
The Dome Fine Dining Restaurant at Buxton College's National Apprenticeship Week allowed apprenices to show off their skills to local empoyers.
National Apprenticeship Week is an excellent showcase of our apprentices' skills and abilities
”Elisabeth Perry, Head of Employer Engagement at Buxton College.
An apprentice honing his skills in the Fine Dining Restaurant kitchen.
Local employers were treated to a three course lunch prepared and served by their apprentices as part of Buxton College's National Apprenticeship Week celebrations.
At one of a number of events to highlight opportunities for would-be apprentices and local employers, the college invited sixty employers to enjoy lunch in the Dome Fine Dining Restaurant on 7 February.
Mary Blauciak, Head of Further Education at Buxton College, part of the University of Derby, said: "The meal was a great opportunity for some of our apprentices to show off the skills they've learned in their jobs and here at College. The food and service was wonderful and they did themselves proud."
Among the guests was Bill Proust, Executive at Alton Towers Resort, which currently has a number of apprentices. He said: "Our apprentices get a formal qualification through their day at college which is a fantastic personal achievement for them and a useful indication of a person's skills for their employer."
Lucy Crossland, 20, from New Mills is working as an apprentice at the Pack Horse Inn, New Mills, and is attending Buxton College one day a week. She worked front-of-house at the lunch. "I really enjoy working, but by coming to college one day a week you also get to learn theory and lots more practical skills that you can take back to work," she said.
One of the employers at the meal was the Manager of the Railway Hotel in Long Eaton, Christopher Pelgrave, who was himself a former apprentice at Buxton College. Christopher encouraged one of his young chefs to follow in his footsteps.
Christopher said: "From my own personal experience I know how good apprenticeships can be. College gives them a chance to develop their fine skills, and they get plenty of support from tutors and assessors."
The meal was one of a number of events that took place throughout the week, which also included demonstrations from Hairdressing, Motor Vehicle and Health, Social Care and Childcare apprentices.
Hairdressing apprentices Megan Jones, Annabelle Robinson and Ashley Bailey gave public demonstrations of hair styling techniques. Ashley, 16, from New Mills works at local salon Clippers and attends Buxton College one day a week to study towards an NVQ. She said: "Doing an apprenticeship is great as I learn at work and at College, and I earn some money at the same time. I know that hairdressing is what I really want to do."
Elisabeth Perry, Head of Employer Engagement at Buxton College, said: "In these challenging economic times, apprenticeships are key to business performance and a very real alternative to traditional pathways to learning. National Apprenticeship Week is an excellent showcase of our apprentices' skills and abilities."
Anyone over the age of 16 can apply for an apprenticeship. Buxton College offers apprenticeship training in Customer Service, Management, Childcare, Health and Social Care, Hairdressing, Hospitality and Catering, Motor Vehicle and Engineering with more to start in September 2011.
To find out more about apprenticeships visit www.buxtoncollege.ac.uk/hired
For more information please contact Press & PR Officer Joanna Colburn on 01332 593004 or 07775 036988, or email j.colburn@derby.ac.uk
