Brend Training Academy: Chef Apprentice Phoenix De Giorgi

We’d like to congratulate our own Phoenix De Giorgi who, after joining us as an apprentice, he has now progressed to a level 3 Chef-De-Partie apprenticeship.

Here at the Brend Hotel Group we champion apprenticeships and work closely with HIT Training who are a provider of apprenticeships in the hospitality industry. We work together to deliver training programmes for new and upcoming chefs.

For his apprenticeship, Phoenix works in the kitchen at Saunton Sands Hotel whilst also liaising closely with HIT Training which provides a supportive and experience-driven course.

Credit must go to Phoenix for his continued hard work and dedication. He was one of the first apprentices in the hospitality industry to complete the new Apprenticeship Standards launched last year and has achieved a distinction!

Apprenticeship Standards are designed to ensure all apprenticeship training is high-quality, rigorous and specifically crafted to develop the knowledge and skills required to work within the hospitality industry.

Phoenix joined Saunton Sands Hotel thanks to our Training Academy, which launched in 2015. The Academy provides paid training places for young people from the local area who are keen to pursue a career in hospitality.

He always wanted to be a chef and made a choice between going to college or doing an apprenticeship at the Brend Academy. Lucky for us, Phoenix jumped at the chance to join the Saunton Sands kitchen and the Academy because he wanted a hands-on experience to hone his skills in hospitality.

Phoenix selected a level 2 Commis Chef apprenticeship and has been doing great things since. Now he’s at level 3 Chef-De-Partie standard, Phoenix is earning more responsibility than ever including being in charge of showing new chefs how the kitchen works.

Speaking about his decision to do the apprenticeship, Phoenix said:

“I have gained a huge amount of experience while working towards my apprenticeship, not just in how to be a chef but in time management, handling responsibility in the kitchen and organising my workload.

“This apprenticeship has enabled me to develop my skills with Brend Hotels. I have learnt how to efficiently prepare food to the highest standard, manage my area during our busy evening service, and run checks to make sure nothing has been missed from the prep book.”

When asked why he chose to do an apprenticeship with The Brend Hotel Group, Phoenix replied:

“All the staff have this amazing ability to solve problems when they arise and still serve A-class dishes to all our customers. It is such an inspirational environment to be part of as everyone loves their job, which means I’m inspired and constantly driven to do my best at all times too.

“My apprenticeship has given me the tools to be able to jump into any job that needs doing, I am able to provide a helping hand, which goes a long way in a kitchen as everyone is busy. Without HIT Training and the team at Saunton Sands, I wouldn’t have gained the skills I have now.”

Are you, or is someone you know, excited to enter the hospitality industry? Based throughout the South West, the Brend Hotel Training Academy is looking to hear from new and upcoming chefs and hotel managers to come through and show us what you can do.

Earn an income whilst learning new skills that will last a lifetime with apprenticeships in a Brend Hotel. Discover more.

This news piece mirrors the one published on the HIT Training website.