Chef Joe Queen said initiative aims to develop next generation of talent
Six aspiring young chefs will embark on the inaugural Archerfield Young Chefs Certificate of Excellence Award – a two-year apprenticeship scheme leading to a position at one of parent company Caledonian Heritable’s venues.
Spearheaded by Archerfield’s executive chef Joe Queen, the new initiative will see six young people recruited from local schools and colleges to embark on the programme, under which they learn all aspects of the kitchen in a new state-of-the-art training kitchen facility at the East Lothian estate. Candidates will also gain ‘real time’ experience, working in several different environments.
On completion of the two-year apprenticeship, chefs will be guaranteed a position within the Caledonian Heritable Group, which operates a range of venues across Scotland, including The Dome and The Peartree in Edinburgh.
Queen, who is a past-president of the Federation of Chefs Scotland and a member of the Springboard Scotland board, said he aims to have the six recruits in place by August to start in September.
“This is a great opportunity for young people to experience all aspects of the kitchen,” he told SLTN.
“Archerfield is so diverse – from banqueting and fine dining to barbecues and The Clubhouse – they’ll get all-round experience and learn from me and the team here.
“It’s a great opportunity and I can’t thank the company enough for this – this will help build our next generation of talent.”
