TV STAR PAYS A VISIT TO NEW STUDENT-LED BAKEHOUSE

TV presenter and novelist Prue Leith, paid a special visit to London South East Colleges Orpington today, to meet students and staff at the new BR6 Bakehouse.

Prue was given a special tour of the Bakehouse, BR6 Restaurant and the college’s training kitchens. Afternoon tea was then served, giving Prue the chance to sample some delicious sandwiches, scones and cakes prepared by the students.

The new student-led Bakehouse, which opened to the public this week, is an extension of the existing BR6 Restaurant, which has gone from strength to strength over the past two years. It is currently rated as the No 1 restaurant on Trip Advisor for the local area.

During her tour of the College’s training facilities, including BR6 Restaurant and the Bakehouse, Prue Leith said:

“I am very obsessed with proper training for the next generation of chefs and hospitality experts. In the past there has not always been enough emphasis on providing young people with the practical skills they need to prepare them for a career in the hospitality industry.

“This is why I am hugely supportive of training programmes which provide real, hands on working alongside the theory and classroom based learning. London South East Colleges’ Hospitality, Food and Enterprise Career College, offers its students a real taste of industry, which is exactly what FE should be doing.

“This new student-led Bakehouse is a superb training ground for young people and will certainly prepare them for careers in our industry. I wish the college and its students the very best and am certain that it will be a huge success.”

Principal of London South East Colleges, Sam Parrett, said:

“We are most grateful to Prue for coming along and joining us today. Our students were so excited to meet her and she has really inspired them to focus on future careers within this dynamic industry.

“Our new Bakehouse is a fantastic addition to Orpington Town Centre and I would like to thank everyone who has supported its development and its opening.”

BR6 Restaurant and Bakehouse have been developed as part of the College’s Hospitality Food and Enterprise Career College – the first of its kind in London.

The Hospitality, Food and Enterprise Career College offers a range of courses from Level 1 right through to a new degree course – BA (Hons) in Culinary Arts and Entrepreneurship.

The employer-led curriculum ensures that students are taught skills that are wholly relevant to the industry and will prepare them for an exciting career.

Students not only get the chance to train in a real working environment (BR6), but also get to visit a number of top restaurant and hotels. The curriculum also includes masterclasses by industry experts along with exciting work experience placements and shadowing opportunities.

If you are interested in joining the Career College and want to find out more visit www.lsec.ac.uk or call 0300 303 2554.