Students score top work experience at Manchester City

Professional cookery students at Tameside College are taking part in a new work experience academy with top chefs at Manchester City Football Club.

F3 Ltd, which supplies catering services to the premiership football club, is working in partnership with the college for the first time to offer work experience and with progression to employment.

The students are training with the executive head chef, Leon Smith and the catering team to learn the skills needed to work in the fast-paced and competitive industry.

Each student spends two weeks working at the Etihad stadium. One week is spent of which is spent doing front-of-house or table service and the other week working in the kitchens. The aim of the academy is to help students learn key skills such as pastry making, confectionery, knife skills and executive catering alongside employability skills such as timekeeping and organisation.

The academy is the only one of its kind in Greater Manchester and is proving beneficial to those taking part. David Boydon, student and former Rayner Stephens High School pupil, has already secured a permanent position with F3’s chef team.

John Holden, food service teacher at Tameside College, said: “The academy is a great way of getting students out of the classroom and into the world of work so that they have those key skills before they have even completed their course. The students were really proud to receive their official F3 jackets and knife sets and this is something that can go on their CV to set them apart from the rest. I am looking forward to them graduating next year.”