The latest batch of apprentice chefs has graduated from Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall.
Last night, some 250 people gathered at the Eden Project for a celebration hosted by Oliver’s mentor, Gennaro Contaldo, to mark the completion of an intensive 16-month programme, where young people aged 16-24 who were not in education, employment or training learn to become the chefs of the future.
Run by the Cornwall Foundation of Promise, the scheme is now in its seventh year. Training and development chef Karl Jones, who is in charge of all of their training in the Fifteen Cornwall kitchen, said: “Our apprentices have had a busy year covering all sections in the Fifteen Cornwall kitchen. By training our guys in a real working environment we were able to get them to a great level within their 12 months with us.”
Commenting on the achievements of Cohort 7, Fifteen Cornwall CEO Matthew Thomson added: “It has been a great privilege to work alongside them and I have seen close up the incredible demands we place on our apprentices and the enormous stamina, discipline, determination, humour and team spirit needed to succeed in the Fifteen Cornwall training programme.
“Cohort 7 started at Fifteen Cornwall just three weeks before I started and when I look back at how much they have achieved in one year in the restaurant, I feel truly humbled.”
