Skills shortage
Living Ventures launches chef academy to fight shortage
The academy is an employer-led apprenticeship for young people in Liverpool, which has been developed to address the skills shortage within the hospitality sector and provide a career path for young people in the city and Merseyside region.
Chef director for Living Ventures John Branagan said: “The academy is a result for our desire to help tackle the national chef shortage and provide viable careers for the young people of Liverpool."
He also said The City of Liverpool College is a great fit for the restaurant and bar company because it is “committed to helping employees provide real solutions to the skills shortage”.
Survival skills
The scheme will include a 'Kitchen Survival Skills' element to give apprentices knowledge, attitude and skills required to work as part of a busy kitchen team.
Successful candidates will receive on-the-job training in Living Ventures kitchens and have the opportunity to attend The City of Liverpool College one day per week to fulfil the qualification element of the apprenticeship.
The programme is expected to take 12 to 18 months to complete and is being offered to candidates aged between 16 and 24.
Candidates will also gain insight from chefs within the Living Ventures team and have motivational talks from others in the industry and specialised training in different areas of hospitality.
Securing meaningful employment
Chief executive of The City of Liverpool College Elaine Bowker said: “Like Living Ventures, we are dedicated to both helping young people develop the skills they need to secure meaningful employment and to supporting growth in the regional hospitality sector by developing a well-equipped, locally based talent pool for the restaurant industry.
“We are proud to be working alongside Living Ventures, one of the UK’s strongest restaurant brands; a leader in training and development in the hospitality industry and a major employer in the north-west.”
Earlier this year, trade body the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) called on the Government to postpone the apprenticeship levy following the Brexit result of the EU referendum in June, and Stonegate boss Simon Longbottom also called for a rethink on the levy.
