College Junior Chef Academy relaunched by Compass to encourage catering apprenticeships

The Junior Chef Academy, a series of culinary training days at Highbury College Portsmouth for 14-16-year olds, has been relaunched in partnership with Compass Group to encourage aspiring chefs into apprenticeships.

During the course students will learn to cook a variety of dishes as well as skills including fish and vegetable preparation, a meat masterclass as well as food preparation and safety training.

There will be training sessions with Compass' Women in Food ambassador and lead development chef Leanne Turk and the head of menu, recipe and ingredients management team, Robert Brown.

Sessions will run after school for 10 weeks, starting from 4 March culminating with a graduation dinner cooked on the final day by students to serve to their friends and family.

Highbury College catering apprenticeship trainer, Paula Tegerdine, said: "The free Junior Chef Academy is a great after-school activity. Students will not only gain a lot of confidence on the course, they'll also be having loads of fun while learning a new skillset in professional cookery, alongside gaining a preview of how their life could look if they were to progress into an apprenticeship."

Compass Group UK & Ireland head of apprenticeships Jonathan Foot said: "We passionately believe in helping support the skills development of enthusiastic students who are aspiring to become the future new talent within the hospitality sector."

Compass sponsorship means the course is free. Interested students should register their interest by emailing Paula.Tegerdine@highbury.ac.uk by 7 February.