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On Monday 15th June at 30 Euston Square, BaxterStorey celebrated the success and achievements of its 2019 Chef Academy graduates. Thirty-four talented chefs from BaxterStorey, Searcys and Holroyd Howe completed the award-winning Chef Academy. The Academy represents one of many programmes run by BaxterStorey that demonstrates its commitment and innovative approach to training and development.

Since its launch in 2003 with the aim of enabling chefs to progress to more senior positions within BaxterStorey, the Academy has seen more than 450 students graduate from its courses, providing them with specialist qualifications including NVQ2, NVQ3 and a BSC in Culinary Arts.

The four-tiered programme consists of inspiring and challenging courses, designed to develop future chefs and apprentices to excel within the kitchen. Open to all chefs within the business, the academy develops their leadership techniques, kitchen finance skills, culinary talent, creative thinking, communication skills and nutrition. Each course offers a wide array of opportunities including masterclasses, bread-making workshops and visiting food markets and fisheries, following farm to fork processes.

BaxterStorey Chairman Alastair Storey commented: “Our business is founded on a commitment to training and development. The Chef Academy is testament to this, with 450 chefs graduating over 16 years. The energy and excitement amongst the graduates this evening represents the spirit of BaxterStorey, and the pride we have in delivering service excellence to all our clients, customers, suppliers and colleagues.

We are lucky to be part of a thriving hospitality industry – one which the UK economy relies on. Nurturing talent and celebrating successes, is how we will continue to grow both the business and the industry. Our graduate chefs are ambassadors to our business, and I am proud to celebrate such a motivated and talented group of people”.

Alongside a Champagne reception and certificate presentations, special awards were given to individual chefs praised for their outstanding achievements, including Best in Class Trainee, Best in Class Trainer, Most Improved Chef and Spirit of the Academy.

Chef Academy graduate and winner of the Spirit of the Academy Award, Francesco La Luna said: “The Chef Academy has accelerated my career as a chef, by developing my confidence in the kitchen and culinary knowledge. I joined BaxterStorey as a kitchen porter in 2015 and have worked my way up the ranks to Sous Chef. I have been fortunate enough to complete both Level 2 and 3 of the Academy; I love how varied the programme is.

“My favourite trip was to Brixham fish market. Being Italian, it allowed me to discover a bit more of England and the food supply here. My confidence in the kitchen has grown so much since joining the Academy – I’ve gone from being a chef to leading my team in the kitchen”.