Living Ventures launches chef academy with City of Liverpool College
Restaurant and bar operator Living Ventures has launched a chef academy offering employer-led apprenticeships for young people in Liverpool in conjunction with the City of Liverpool College.
Living Ventures, which operates Gusto, Olive and the Alchemist in the city, said the apprenticeship has been developed to address the skills shortage within the hospitality sector and provide a career path for young people from Liverpool and the wider Merseyside region.
The programme will consist of an initial ‘Kitchen Survival Skills' element to equip apprentices with the knowledge and attitude needed to work as part of a busy kitchen team.
Candidates who are successful in gaining a place at the academy will receive on-the-job experience within Living Ventures' kitchens. They will also have the chance to attend the City of Liverpool College one day a week to fulfil the qualification element of the apprenticeship, which is expected to last around 12-18 months. The apprenticeship is being offered to candidates aged 16 to 24.
The apprentices will also gain insight from chefs within the Living Ventures team and will receive motivational talks from others within the industry, along with specialised training in different areas of hospitality.
John Branagan, chef-director for Living Ventures, said: "The academy is a result of our desire to help tackle the national chef shortage and provide viable careers for the young people of Liverpool. The City of Liverpool College is a great fit for us as it is committed to helping employers provide real solutions to the skills shortage."
Elaine Bowker, principal and chief executive of the City of Liverpool College, said: "Like Living Ventures, we are dedicated both to helping young people develop the skills they need to secure meaningful employment and to supporting growth in the regional hospitality sector by developing a well-equipped, locally-based talent pool for the restaurant industry.
"We are proud to be working alongside Living Ventures, one of the UK's strongest restaurant brands; a leader in training and development in the hospitality industry and a major employer in the North West."
Living Ventures and the City of Liverpool College are holding a recruitment day for the chef academy on 20 October at Red Door, Berry Street, Liverpool.
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