Stonegate launches new back-of-house management programme

The programme, aimed at kitchen teams, was launched in 2017 by Stonegate's apprenticeship manager, Jemelle Bish, and back-of-house training manager, Rhona Symon, and currently comprises three levels.

The first two levels offer budding chefs and kitchen managers a six-month induction course covering food operations and processes involved in running a kitchen.

Level three, run in partnership with Remit Training, covers areas such as leadership skills, marketing, sales, financial operations, operating procedures, menu design, people management and customer service.

Stonegate’s latest programme – again, created in partnership with Remit Training - will introduce a fourth level, lasting for 18 months.

This will target experienced chefs and kitchen managers with the aim of enhancing their leadership and management skills.

Bish commented: "Turnover among kitchen staff is often fairly high, but we have seen a significant increase in staff retention and engagement since the launch of Albert's Evolution.

“The addition of level four means that we can offer back-of-house staff a full career pathway which is the equivalent of a vocational degree.

"We're determined to raise the profile of careers in the hospitality industry and committed to investing in our people and providing them with a clear career path.

“We're really proud of all those who have completed the training so far and excited about the future for our level four graduates."

Currently there are 107 members of staff on the level two programme, 59 on level three and 38 people who have been assessed and are on the waiting list to start level four this month.