Your support has helped develop chef school

As I step down from Butlers Wharf Chef School, I would like to say a personal thanks to those individuals who have given their support over the years, Thank you to the board, led by Garry Hawkes; organisations such as the Savoy Educational Trust and the Forte Foundation; companies such as Directors Table, Eaton Group, Sodexho, Fresh RM, Scottish & Newcastle and Avenance; the Craft Guild of Chefs and the Restaurant Association; individuals such as Rodney Widdowson, Michael Gottlieb, Rocco Forte and Peter Russum, and of course the many leading chefs and restaurateurs who assist with training and special events.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the fantastic team of staff at the school. They have also demonstrated that there is an effective way of delivering the type and quality of training our industry deserves and needs.

All too often our industry receives unjustified criticism for not putting enough back into training. The individuals and organisations listed and many others do just that. Their active support for the Chefs School and other initiatives demonstrates their ongoing commitment to our great industry.

It is through them that the chef school developed. They have demonstrated that by investing time, finance and resources in such facilities all can benefit.

John Roberts, (ex Head of Butlers Wharf), Dean of the School of Tourism & Hospitality Management, Derby University, Buxton, Derbyshire.