Catering Apprentice Industry Challenge Winner Announced

Parichat Tachadee, known as Ploy to her friends and colleagues, is announced as winner in the Cambridge Regional College (@CRC_College) Catering Apprenticeship Industry Challenge 2021.

Ploy first became aware of her passion for catering when she chose to study Food Technology at Newmarket Academy. Ploy enjoyed the subject and found that she had a natural ability in the kitchen, where she particularly enjoyed researching the dishes she was preparing. Upon leaving secondary school, Ploy wanted to gain independence while continuing with her education, so after securing an apprenticeship with Nancy’s Tea Room, Newmarket, she signed up to the Level 2 Production Chef Apprenticeship with Cambridge Regional College.

Ploy said, “I wanted to learn about the industry in a work environment to enable me to earn an income while studying. This has given me a sense self-sufficiency as well as preparing me for a professional career in catering. I have a lot of opportunity to learn from my colleagues in the workplace and the industry trained lecturers in the CRC professional kitchens. It is the best of both worlds.”

On a day-to-day basis, Ploy supports the team at Nancy’s Tea Room with preparing afternoon tea’s, baking scones and cakes, and with general duties expected in a professional kitchen. In the Industry Challenge set by the CRC Assessor team, the Catering apprentices were tasked with developing a brand for a product or service they would like to develop. Expanding on her experience in the Tea Room, Ploy developed a business plan and marketing strategy for her business, Khanom, a Dessert Café bringing the flavours and traditions of Thailand to the market.

Play added, “Before starting my apprenticeship I was a shy person, but the apprenticeship experience has shown me that communication is important in a professional kitchen. CRC has helped me with my confidence, and I feel supported by the friendly people around me. The college has great catering services with tutors that have the full range of industry experience. At the same time the work-based learning gives me on-the-job skills and experience, so there are lots of learning opportunities.”

After her apprenticeship, Ploy has aspirations to progress to University to study Catering with the aim of achieving her long-term objective of opening her own café.

Find out more about Apprenticehips and Catering & Hospitality at CRC.

Winners in the Beauty Apprentice Industry Challenge:

Evie Ollington, Level 2 and Imogen Doe, Level 3

Winners in the Hairdressing Industry Challenge:

1st – Louise Baldock, Neve Webber, Emma Ross

2nd – Carmen Lyn, Holly Kimberley, Holly Anderson, Tomas Dingley

3rd – Heather Archer, Tegan Easey, Ellie Wand

Special commendation – Nik Robinson