Wealden Times | WT182 | April 2017 | Gardens supplement inside

Food
clockwise
from left:
Rosemary and
apprentice Lauren-
Louise present the Lamb
Navarin; Lauren-Louise
and tutor, Shenley
Moore
Main Course
Rosemary Shrager talks to Lucy Fleming about the new apprenticeships
on offer at her Cookery School in Tunbridge Wells
Why did you decide to offer apprenticeships?
Rosemary: “I came down to Tunbridge Wells to set up
the Cookery School with the intention of eventually
offering apprenticeships. When I was learning to cook,
I was desperate for a mentor – I kept books and wrote
about food – and ending up putting myself through
apprenticeships that I organised myself. I learned on the
job, searching out the relevant expertise for each area that
I wanted to find out more about. For me, to give back
what I truly loved myself was the most important thing.
I love to see students develop. It’s a wonderful
way to begin. An apprenticeship scheme in the
catering industry is one of the most logical ways
of starting out as you’re learning on the job.
Before, we didn’t have the infrastructure to do the
marketing to let people know that we were offering
apprenticeships, so I decided a year ago that I needed to
find a partner who was able to fulfil the side that I couldn’t.
And that’s when I found Hadlow – through a bit of a stroke
of luck. We were at the Kent Choices for You Careers Fair
at Detling and Mark Lumsdon-Taylor, Hadlow’s Deputy
Group Principal and Deputy CEO happened to be there.
Mark came to see me and I explained our situation and he
decided that there was a future in us working together.
Months later, we’re now in partnership with the Hadlow
group. It’s the best partnership, as they are able to deliver
what we haven’t got – the marketing side, the apprenticeship
side, the funding side. I am absolutely over the moon with it.
I honestly do believe that they can offer us as much as we can
offer them. Here we have a high-end catering side whereas
at Hadlow they don’t – we can deliver an introduction into
live shows, work experience, getting apprentices into top
restaurants. I have had students here working on set on
a TV show – now that’s experience! They have also been
invited to Abu Dhabi and Dubai and we’re doing exchanges
with universities in the Scottish Highlands and Ireland,
too. I’ve even got them into the Royal Tent at Buckingham
Palace where they’ve met the Royals. I’ve been able to
introduce them to a world that they wouldn’t necessarily
have had the opportunity to become involved in before.”
How do apprentices apply?
Shenley Moore, Tutor: “We take apprentices from 16 years
of age, working on NVQ 2, 3 & 4. There is space for up
to 40 here. To apply, prospective apprentices would either
phone the Cookery School or Hadlow College and come
in for an interview to talk through their skills, before being
enrolled. You can apply at any time throughout the year.”
What’s the response been like?
Rosemary: “It’s just beginning, it’s brilliant! We’ve got more
and more students coming on board. We’ve got interviews –
there’s lots going on. Lauren’s been with us for nearly three
years, she absolutely loves it!”
Lauren-Louise Nicholson, apprentice: “I did my level 2, went
travelling for a year and I’ve come back to do my level three.”
Rosemary: “It’s perfect – I love it! I’m so lucky. I
have some wonderful people working here and
teaching – they’re incredible, they really are.”
To enquire about an apprenticeship, email
ABCGroup@hadlowgroup.ac.uk, call 01732 372888 or
fill out the online application form at rosemaryshrager.
com/the-cookery-school/apprenticeships/.
165 wealdentimes.co.uk