Greene King apprentice accelerates towards own kitchen

An apprentice who is making “rapid” progress has aspirations of running his own kitchen before long.

Luke Myers, a chef at the Yorkshire Grey, in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, took just 20 days to get an apprenticeship after applying with Greene King.

He is currently undertaking a Food Production & Cooking Level 2 apprenticeship and setting his sights high.

“I always wanted to be a head chef, but I wasn’t sure where to start about learning the art of cooking, until I secured my apprenticeship with Greene King,” Myers said.

“Who knows? If I continue making rapid progress, it won’t be long before I become head chef or start running my own kitchen!”

Greene King has been named as one of the top 50 apprenticeship employers in the UK on a list in association with the Daily Telegraph.

“The apprenticeship route appealed to me because it meant I would be in a job but learning more each day about the disciplines needed in the kitchen and the different elements to the menu,” Myers said.

“The apprenticeship allows me to gain qualifications which are tailored to my role.”

Myers said he enjoys the combination of workplace learning and masterclasses to develop his skills.

“It has enabled me to improve and further my career,” he added.

Since 2011, Greene King has helped support more than 7,400 apprentices and offers qualifications that support a range of job roles including front of house, kitchen and management.

Rooney Anand, chief executive officer of Greene King, said: “It is important to us that we attract, train and retain the very best people.

“This is why we strongly believe in the value of apprenticeships, and remain committed to growing, developing and investing in young people.

“It is important to raise awareness of apprenticeships as a credible alternative to further education, which allows young people to get that all-important step on the career ladder.”

In the Apprenticeship Careers List, which is produced in association with the Daily Telegraph, Greene King was recognised as one of the top 10 organisations within retail and services for employee retention rate, recruitment strategy and the number of apprenticeships offered per year.