The chef said: “We get in young people from the area and try to give them confidence and watch them grow – that’s worked very well rather than taking on chef de parties that expect a lot of money and want to be head chef but have only cooked for six months.”
Chapman said he believed part of the issue was down to the sheer number of new food businesses opening over the last few years.
He said: “There are more and more restaurants opening every day – and people are becoming tired of the long hours and the money is not amazing. So as an employer, you’ve got to really look after people.
“There are lots and lots of chefs out there but what I sometimes find is you have chefs who don’t care about the customer and are happy to serve out second rate food.
“You don’t want to suffer fools so when you find good people it’s fundamental to make sure you’re a good employer and you look after them.”
He said his approach meant that whilst finding staff was challenging, he didn’t struggle with retention.
“In my personal experience, if you fill people with confidence they will give you a good service nine out of ten times. People work with me for maybe 5 or 6 years, so it’s very important that we look after and retain them.”
Chapman said he looks for enthusiasm and good mannered people to fill his kitchen.
He said: “Being nice is so important – there are a lot of people in our industry that aren’t necessarily that nice. I want a civilised bunch of chefs in the kitchen.”
Great British Menu
Chapman recently appeared on the South West heats of this year’s BBC2 Great British Menu alongside Josh Eggleton of the Pony & Trap and Emily Watkins of the Kingham Plough.
Chapman said: “The Great British Menu kitchen is a ridiculous pressure – you have to get that balance between producing amazing food but also not stitching yourself up so you have time to answer all the questions thrown at you.”
To coincide with the screening of the show, Chapman, Watkins, Eggleton and fellow contestant Jude Kareama of Kota Restaurant put on a series of Great British Menu-themed tasting menu nights at their four respective venues, where they reproduced their dishes from the show.
Chapman said: “It was amazing, Josh and Emily and Jude and I are all really good friends and loved cooking at each other’s places – we want to do it again.”
