Take your first steps in your career as a chef with a chef apprenticeship/The Chef Academy at Brend Hotels and HIT Training.
Headed by HIT Training’s Paul Mannering, Academy Principal, and run by expert chef trainers around our 11 hotels across Devon & Cornwall, a Brend Chef Apprenticeship offers the highest quality training, development and learning in the industry; innovative training for the culinary stars of the future.
Professional Chef Apprenticeships
Chefs at all levels and ages can gain new skills with the apprenticeships involving on-site learning and assessment, e-learning and assignments, with frequent on-site visits by our industry experienced chef trainers.
[Commis Chefs (Intermediate - level 2)]
[Food production (Intermediate - level 2)]
[Chef de Partie (Advanced - level 3)]
In addition to the chef apprenticeship training schedule, students will be invited to attend additional programmes to enhance their training journey:Culinary masterclasses - Expert trainers will demonstrate additional knife skills, preparing and cooking complex dishes, refining flavours and creating dishes required in ‘fine dining’ kitchens
Chef demonstrations - Take part in demonstrations at food fairs and festivals
Enter competitions - We encourage our chef apprentices to enter culinary competitions and we also run our own Brend Chef Academy Competition
Outside events - Students will have the opportunity to work with our outside catering company - Top Notch Event Catering at local events and weddings.
Does the below apply to brend students? - taken from HIT site
FRESH PRODUCT PROCUREMENT - With visits to farms, fishmongers and butchers sourcing seasonal foods
KITCHEN MANAGEMENT - Covering all aspects of managing people, administration, and the kitchen environment.
NUTRITION TRAINING - How to create dishes to meet your customers’ special needs, allergies and dietary requirements
Once apprentices have completed the apprenticeship, it’s our aim to be able to offer a permanent role at one of our hotels or restaurants. With the help of a HIT Training tutor, apprentices will be based in one of our professional hotel kitchens in Devon or Cornwall. Apprentices will build their knowledge, skills and confidence through a structured professional cookery qualification with the support and guidance of industry professionals.
Reasons to join the Brend Training Academy as an apprentice chef:
(below is taken from Rick Stein - needs adapting)
What students will do as an apprentice chef:
Entry requirements
How do I apply?
Waiting to hear back from reach about how this will work.
Either apply for a specific vacancy at a designated hotel through our Current Vacancies page here and follow the application instructions or send us an application and we will get back to you to discuss where there may be a vacancy.
When can I start?
The Brend Training Academy takes applications all year round and will endeavour to find a position for you ASAP, however, sometimes there is a waiting list. Please see our current apprenticeship vacancies ready for immediate start.
Take applications all year round? Are there enrollment specific times?
[Check current vacancies]
[View all Brend Academy Apprenticeships]
[Chef Apprentice Stories/ Testimonials]
A UK resident
Must not be taking part in full-time education
A desire to work within the hospitality industry
Aged 16+
GCSE grade C and above is desirable in English and Maths
Demonstrating commitment to your apprenticeship programme
Keeping a diary to record development of knowledge and skills
Preparing for/attending practical learning sessions
Looking after stock – security, rotation and stock levels
Preparing food to the company’s high standards, learning about the responsibilities required to ensure that quality and consistency is achieved
Developing food knowledge by taking part in tastings with the head chef
Learning and developing new skills within the kitchen
Access to our Employee Assistance Programme supported by Hospitality Action, our leading industry charity
Invited to team events
50% discount in restaurants and 20% discount in shops
Complimentary meal for two at one of our restaurants
Provided with regular reviews, support and feedback
Have support from one of Cornwall's best colleges (Truro and Penwith)
Receive a competitive starting rate of pay and a share of tips from customers
Take part in monthly practical cookery sessions with our best chefs
List perks of being a Brend employee
Paid £188 pw