Young’s and Geronimo Inns launch chef academy

Based in Wandsworth, London, the academy will provide structured training for employees to achieve NVQ qualifications at level 2 for professional cookery or level 3 in hospitality management.

Committed​

Patrick Dardis, retail director at Young’s, said: “We are committed to reinvesting in our chefs at a time of skilled shortages in the industry.”

Candidates who want to to gain a place in the academy take part in a cook off as assessment of their potential. Providing they pass that stage, they go on to be trained by Young’s executive chef Chris Knights and Geronimo Inns director of food, Jono Jenkins.

Support​

Dardis added: “The academy gives our chefs the support and knowledge to allow them to showcase their creativity and innovation back in their respective kitchens, ensuring our menus are as individual as our pubs and they continue to evolve.”

Twenty candidates are currently undertaking the level 2 qualification, with twenty four undertaking the level 3.

Young’s said it planned to introduce a third tier of assessment in 2016.