Vacherin celebrates next generation chef talent programme
Vacherin is celebrating the success of its next generation chef talent programme, PLATE, as the first cohort of Capital City College (formerly Westminster Kingsway College) students graduates and prepares to join the Vacherin team in permanent full-time employment this September.
The specialist London catering and hospitality business is also expanding the programme to support Professional Cookery Level 3 Diploma students at New City College Hackney.
Launched in September 2024 in partnership with Capital City College and Vacherin’s Consultant Chef Sabrina Gidda, PLATE (which stands for Performance, Learning and Technical Excellence) marked a new direction for business/college partnerships, elevating the student experience and traditional work placement concept.
Designed to unlock talent and support transition from education into industry, the pioneering programme supports selected students throughout years two and three of the Professional Chef Diploma. It provides broader skills training, mentoring and exposure to the wide range of exciting opportunities hospitality, and particularly contract catering, has to offer. PLATE students are also guaranteed a role with Vacherin on graduation, giving them a goal and a clear pathway from college to employment.
Ella Dawson, Mia Tucker, Aisha Ceesay and Ishaan Atul Kotecha were the first students to complete the two-year programme. They benefitted from additional skills training and learning and development opportunities; mentoring from Vacherin’s Food Director, Alex Rowe, Sabrina Gidda and Vacherin’s experienced chefs; masterclasses and external stages; supplier visits; industry events and culinary competitions; financial support with the cost of learning and additional paid work placement opportunities (outside of the mandated college work placement requirements).
The graduates will work at some of Vacherin’s prestigious London sites and benefit from continued mentoring and enrichment activities, plus the many benefits and learning and development opportunities that Vacherin and its parent company, Compass Group UK & Ireland, offer its people.
Alex Rowe said: “We’re so proud of our first cohort of PLATE graduates and the progress they’ve made with us over the past two years. They are incredibly talented and we can’t wait to welcome them as permanent members of the Vacherin team. Our objective when we created PLATE was to support and empower students throughout their learning journey in a way that recognises the person and addresses the barriers to course completion and career progression that can be experienced.
“We’re thrilled that PLATE is growing. Our second Capital City College cohort is in full flow and we’re about to welcome our third this academic year. We’re also excited to be expanding PLATE into New City College this month. We’re incredibly proud to be leading the way in supporting young talent and helping to future proof our industry. Our ambition is to continue to grow the programme and our support of culinary students by collaborating with more college partners.”
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