A catering and support services firm has joined the Press and Journal’s Apprentice 100 campaign after vowing to dish up top careers to a trio of young people.
ESS Support Services Worldwide – part of Compass Group – will recruit an apprentice chef and two business support trainees as part of our drive to create jobs for the next generation.
Apprentice chefs at ESS, which is a key supplier of catering services to the offshore industry, benefit from a tailor-made training programme.
As well as completing formal qualifications at college, they choose from a range of supplementary courses designed to help them master types of cooking they are passionate about, including, pastry, seafood and Asian cuisine.
Chefs also learn first-hand from some of the best in the business, including Calum Richardson of the Bay Fish and Chips in Stonehaven.
The business support apprentices will be based at the Aberdeen office and will spend time working in the firm’s various departments, including logistics, marketing, HR and finance.
ESS business director, Ronnie Kelman, said: “When people are willing to become the best they can be, there’s nothing more encouraging for me than to be able to give them a chance.
“We’ve got a responsibility to give youngsters a start in the industry.”
One young person who has excelled at ESS is Gordon McKenzie.
Mr McKenzie, who joined in 2011 and now works offshore, won a gold medal at last year’s Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg.
He said: “I was a blank canvas for the company when I joined. I’ve gone from someone who didn’t know how to use a knife to competing at a cooking competition in Luxembourg.
“You’re not put under pressure – the company sees where you want to go in your career and supports you. I thank them for what they’ve done for me.”
Apprentice chef Rachel Michie, 18, is aiming to follow Mr McKenzie’s lead and notch up some trophies of her own.
And she has made a great start, having won an award at Compass Scottish Junior Chef of the Year 2014.
She said: “I always did cooking in school and knew it was the only thing I wanted to do as a career. I really enjoy getting to do new things every day.”
The apprenticeships will be advertised on the jobs section of the Compass Group website at www.jobsatcompass.co.uk.