Rick Stein launches Chef Apprenticeship scheme

The Rick Stein group's Chef Apprenticeship, which will be starting in September 2022, has opened applications to anyone over 16 with a passion and curiosity for cooking.

The scheme will offer eight successful apprentices the chance to fully immerse themselves in one of Rick Stein's Cornish kitchens, such as the Seafood Restaurant and the Cornish Arms pub.

There will be weekly sessions on the fundamentals of cooking, such as filleting fish and preparing vegetables, led by expert chef tutors at Truro & Penwith College, who have partnered with Stein's group for over a decade.

Tastings with head chefs will also form a part of the hands-on, skills-based curriculum.

It comes as hospitality businesses continue to struggle with staff shortages; trade body UKHospitality claims there are around 400,000 vacancies in the sector.

Jack Stein, the son of Rick Stein and chef director of the Rick Stein Group, told The Caterer: "Some of the apprenticeship schemes in the past were a good way of getting people into a kitchen and hopefully holding onto them, but they weren't remunerated in the correct way.

"We are trying to redress that: our apprenticeships are paid the same as anyone else, we guarantee them a job at the end if they successfully complete the course, and we're also including all the benefits that our regular staff get."

This means that Rick Stein apprentices will earn at least £9.30 per hour (under 18s) and £9.60 (over 18s), as well receiving employee perks such as 50% off in all restaurants, flexible shifts and 28 days paid holiday.

Students who successfully complete the course will also be certified with a Level 2 in Professional Cookery qualification, as well as being given a permanent contract as a Rick Stein chef in one of the group's kitchens, which has six restaurants in Cornwall alone.

Jack Stein acknowledged that the "South West has been extremely short of cheap places for people to stay", referring to the housing crisis in the region.

However, because of his firm belief in enabling young apprentices to see that chefs, too, can enjoy "job security, longevity, and clear development pathways", he has faith in the local spirit.

He said: "The thing with the apprenticeship is that you are trying to pull in people from the local community. That's really important for us as a business. We want people to stay and work in Cornwall"

Stein added: "You have to get people through the door and that's what we're trying to achieve here. I never even thought about being a chef before I went into a kitchen. Once I went in, I realised it's the place for me. I fell in love with it."

The scheme is currently only open to chefs, but Stein revealed that "we are working on front of house and management courses too".