Holiday Inn hunts for ‘culinary superstars’

FAREHAM’s Holiday Inn has launched a new apprentice chef academy for aspiring culinary superstars.

Valor Hospitality, the international hotel management companythatrunsHolidayInn Fareham, has launched a new ChefDevelopmentAcademyto encourage people from the area to embark on a culinary career following a national skills shortage in the sector.

Launching in August 2022, Holiday Inn Fareham will be one of 12 hotels to take part in the pilot scheme.

While undergoing their training, trainees will be paid an annual salary of £20,000 and receive a full starter kit, including chef whites, shoes, and their own knife set.

Ranked in the top six ‘Best Places to Work in Hospitality 2022’ by The Catey Awards – the Oscars of the hospitality sector – for the third time, Valor will work in partnership withexperthospitalityapprenticeshipandtrainingprovider, Umbrella Training to deliver the programme.

With a mix of one-to-one tutoring and on-the-job trainingstartingatapprenticeLevel 2, the scheme provides candidates with the opportunity to reach head chef level within five years.

Trainees will also be able to compete for quarterly bonuses and Valor will offer a guaranteed pay increase upon completionofthe12-monthapprenticeship programme.

George French, general manager at Holiday Inn Fareham, said: ‘Valor is looking to develop the next generation of culinary superstars across the country,andwe’reexcitedtobe oneofthehotelsinvolvedinthe apprentice scheme.’

For more information on the programme, visit valorhospitality.com.