The Belfry Hotel & Resort has launched a fully funded culinary training programme designed to address skills shortages in the hospitality sector and develop the next generation of chefs.
The Chef Academy, delivered in partnership with apprenticeship and training provider HIT Training, will offer development opportunities for both aspiring and experienced chefs, combining practical experience with technical, leadership and commercial training.
The initiative comes amid concerns about skills shortages across hospitality, with the sector reportedly facing a skills density deficit of 6.2%, contributing to an estimated £55 million in annual costs associated with inefficient training.
The programme highlights the growing importance of workforce development in maintaining catering quality and service standards across large-scale conferences, meetings and hospitality operations.
The Belfry’s food and beverage teams serve more than 2,000 guests daily and deliver over 10,000 Christmas party covers annually. Its meetings and events operation encompasses 23 event spaces, including the Masters Suite, which can accommodate up to 920 delegates theatre-style.
Apprentices will gain experience across this extensive operation, supported by dedicated paid training hours, workshops and specialist masterclasses.
The Academy offers four apprenticeship pathways, ranging from Level 2 Commis Chef and Production Chef qualifications to Level 4 Chef development for those progressing towards senior kitchen leadership positions.
Specialist training will cover areas including sustainable cooking, budgeting, kitchen management and advanced patisserie.
Robert Bates (above, right), who has been promoted from Executive Chef to the newly created position of Culinary Director, will lead the initiative.
“The Chef Academy is about passing on knowledge, championing seasonal, classical cooking with modern techniques, and building a culture where chefs feel valued, challenged and proud of what they do every day,” he said.
The launch also coincides with changes to The Belfry’s kitchen leadership structure. Dean Cole (above, left), who joined the resort in 2011, has been appointed Executive Head Chef, overseeing kitchen operations, menu development and service consistency.
The resort is also recruiting a new Resort Head Chef to manage day-to-day kitchen operations and team development.
Applications for The Chef Academy are now open through The Belfry’s careers website.
Image credit: The Belfry
