Weston College joined forces with the Chefs’ Forum Academy to host an event promoting careers in the hospitality industry to over 200 pupils.

Some of the region’s top chefs demonstrated at the Hospitality Industry Taster Day, which took place at the Winter Gardens, 11.30am-1.30pm on Wednesday 20th March.

This free event – was open to year 8, 9, 10 and 11 pupils, and college students – showcasing the hospitality industry as a career option. Guests were treated to mocktails, canapés and beef burgers.

The day included 20-minute interactive masterclasses showcasing culinary expertise such as butchery, beef cookery, the secrets of herbs and spices, and intricate pastry techniques.

Sandra Bull, Divisional Lead for Hospitality and Catering at Weston College, said “We are pleased to have some of the region’s top chefs and butchers involved to show how rewarding and exciting a career in the industry can be. In a sector, which is in, decline it is great to showcase the options open to those leaving school in the next couple of years. This year we also hosted various local businesses – a great opportunity for buddy chefs to see local produce is best!”

The Chefs’ Academy Forum is a network of industry experts that supports the next generation of chefs. As well as showcasing their skills at the taster day, forum experts teach Weston College hospitality students, enriching learning through bespoke cookery masterclasses in the College kitchens.

Jack Cook, of award-winning Devizes butchers Walter Rose & Son, performed a beef butchery masterclass in advance of Great British Beef Week. All pupils who attended the event got a delicious Walter Rose Angus x Hereford Stokes Marsh Farm beef burger, with delicious garnishes produced by College catering students.

Le Manoir-trained chef Amy Nancollis, from Oak and Glass restaurant in Weston, joined chefs Andy Chan and Tom Everard Fairburn, of Thornbury Castle Hotel, for an éclair filling and decorating competition.

Topping the day off will be a spice masterclass from Sam Guarino, of Santa Maria. Sam talked budding young chefs through the tasty world of herbs and spices.

Chefs’ Forum Founder, Catherine Farinha, said: “It was a real honour to be asked to hold this event with Weston College again this year. If a handful of students who attend the event are inspired to study catering and hospitality because of the fantastic industry experts on show, then our work here is done.”

This event is run annually, register your interest via email sandra.bull@weston.ac.uk.

The treatment of further education (FE) is nothing short of shocking and the recent Augar report is a condemnation of what has happened to the ‘poor relation’ in the educational sector.

As a practitioner who has had the opportunity to work in the school/academy, FE and HE sectors, I am amazed at the lack of investment by Government for what I passionately regard as the key driver of skills and aspirations for our economy. The question now is whether this is the light at the end of the tunnel, or if the glimmer is about to be extinguished as a result of the political malaise our country now finds itself in.

As I write this article, I have literally hundreds of learners taking GCSEs or Functional Skills examinations in mathematics and English. An inordinate number of dedicated staff have coached and developed these 17-year-olds to give them the best possible chance of success, while the level of pastoral support that has gone into supporting learners has been extensive. Our College cannot afford to produce this level of support, but we do because these young people need these skills to progress. And our finances are pushed to the wire as a result.

Of course, there is another issue here. Why are so many learners arriving at the College with such poor achievement in these core subjects? The answer is clear – they have not had the necessary teaching at their previous schools and academies. A specialist in lean management principles would have a field day here, but the problem is tackled too late. The Government must target this robustly. After all, how can a school or academy that cannot get the majority of their learners through such exams be deemed ‘outstanding’? Words fail me.

So, is the Augar report correct? Does it go far enough and can it change our sector? The first issue for me is the sheer breadth of the report which, whilst highly critical of the lack of funding for FE, is contained within a detailed evaluation of all post-18 delivery. The messages within it, however, are very clear and, although most of the observations are common sense to the FE practitioner, I wonder how well they will be both received and understood. Only this week, one MP commented that they had already resolved the issues in FE. Deluded? Most definitely. Ready for change? Not on the basis of that comment! Yet, colleges continue to suffer and one has to wonder what it will take to galvanise action.

The recommendations within the report are, as I’ve said previously, not new to those of us in the sector. They include reducing the inflexible and costly rules to allow for strategic focus and planning; the rationalisation of colleges, where necessary; reversing reductions in core funding; introducing an appropriate adult budget; investing in workforce so there is comparability of salaries with schools, academies and HEIs; and proper recognition for college identity. This would provide a major start to correcting years of starvation of resources, including capital investment.

The next stage? Watch, wait and maintain impetus I guess. We are in a time of change and influence, but imagine if the findings of Augar were even more concise and stated that Government had in effect:

• Failed to strategically plan
• Allowed a growing deficit to spiral out of control
• Complicated processes and done little to enable progression
• Ensured an inequality in pay and working conditions
• Failed to invest appropriately.

Do you not think this is starting to look like a report from the FE Commissioner? It’s time for intervention I think. Will it happen? Who knows? The danger that if it doesn’t happen the reality is now actually even more dangerous for skills in general than our sector!

Dr Paul Phillips, CBE

Principal and Chief Executive

Skills Support for the Unemployed (SSU) has helped Nicola find a new job after she was made redundant by Thomas Cook, after 20 years’ service.

The SSU programme is delivered by Weston College on behalf of Dimensions Training Solutions (DTS), which is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and managed by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

SSU aims to upskill unemployed people and fast-track them to employment or further training.

Ahead of starting a new job, Nicola described how SSU has helped her.

“Following my redundancy with Thomas Cook, I was unemployed for three months,” she said.

“My friend recommended that I get in touch with Weston College, and I haven’t looked back.

“Through Skills Support for the Unemployed, I managed to complete three courses; IT Entry Level, IT Level 1 and AAT Bookkeeping.

“Not only did I develop skills, I also grew in confidence, which is so critical when you’re looking for a job. I particularly enjoyed the interview preparation with my ‘job coach – I found this so valuable in getting me a job.

“If you are unemployed, I would highly recommend getting in touch with Weston College. They will support you in every aspect of finding a job.

“I am really excited about starting my new job as a customer relations advisor.”

Find out more about SSU, by clicking here.