Ashburton Cookery School launches new Chefs Academy to great success

Jan. 18, 2012 - PRLog -- 18 January 2012:  With newly released figures of 2.68 million unemployed people, the highest since 1994 and up 8.4 per cent on the previous quarter, there is a real need for establishments offering training in real careers and this is one reason why the award-winning Ashburton Cookery School in Devon has launched its new Chefs Academy to great success.

With programmes like BBC MasterChef attracting big audiences, the Academy is designed to help prepare the next generation of inspirational head chefs for the demands of the 21st century catering and restaurant industry.

Aimed at aspiring chefs, the Ashburton Chefs Academy flagship six-month course, the Professional Culinary Diploma, will equip students with the knowledge and skills to cook at the highest level as well as providing management and business training needed to launch a career as a head chef.

The Chefs Academy has already proved to be a great success in attracting students despite the economic downturn. It has enrolled students from all walks of life and age groups who are opting for a change in career following redundancy or as an alternative to university education with its high fees and possible long-term debt.

A team of professional chef tutors with a wealth of head chef experience will deliver the course at the purpose built cookery school in the picturesque Georgian town of Ashburton on the edge of the Dartmoor National Park in Devon.

The Chef Director at Ashburton Cookery School, Darrin Hosegrove, says that the new Academy will provide the restaurant industry with the multi-skilled, inspirational chefs of the future; “The Chef’s Academy and the courses it offers will appeal to those who want to be the elite in the industry. To be the best in such a competitive and pressurised world you have to be trained in the necessary skills so that you can run a kitchen like a business. We have a talented team of experienced chef tutors who can mentor tomorrow’s head chefs and help to prepare them for the demands of the industry.”

With so much upheaval and uncertainty in the UK workforce, the Chefs Academy is attracting a wide range of age groups who are reappraising their careers.  The majority of students at the Academy are retraining to pursue a second career following public sector redundancies or resettlement from the armed forces. While the younger students who may face limited opportunities as graduates are opting to become a qualified chef in just six months in an industry which is currently suffering a skills shortage.

Darrin Hosegrove says that whatever their background the students will be given an intensive training on a unique course which moves beyond basic skills training: “ We teach students to cook to the highest level but we also develop the skills required by the modern head chef such as building valuable relationships with food producers, inspiring your team in the kitchen, business skills, wine matching and food ethics as well as life skills that are essential to ensure a long and successful career. It is this approach which makes this 100 day course a 100% unique.”

As well as the Professional Culinary Diploma further courses will be added this year including a Patisserie Diploma, a “ Leadership in the kitchen” course and inspiring courses for existing chefs.

The next Professional Culinary Diploma starts on 17 July, 2012
The course costs £13,995 for the course only of £16,795 fully residential  

For more details visit about the new academy, please visit
 www.AshburtonChefsAcademy.co.uk

For further information about Ashburton Cookery School visit
www.AshburtonCookerySchool.co.uk

Note to Editors:
Ashburton Cookery School is an award winning cookery school based at Ashburton close to the Dartmoor National Park in Devon. It offers more than 40 cookery courses for people from beginners to the more experienced cook. The courses are delivered by a team of 6 chef tutors at state of the art kitchens at the centre in Ashburton.

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