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Cooking up a storm: Seamus O'Sullivan, Ballineen, Cork, Noelle McLoughlin, Kinsale, Bernie Doe, Just Cooking, Amy O'Sullivan, Bantry, Dr Dean Panter, Fáilte Ireland, Operations Manager, Deirdre Donohue, Killarney, John Farrell, Ballybunion, Mark Doe, 'Just Cooking'. PICTURE: VALERIE O’SULLIVAN
 

 
SIX aspiring chefs from Kerry and Cork have successfully graduated from Fáilte Ireland’s pilot commis chef programme today which was delivered by Just Cooking, Cookery School, Killahane, Killarney.

They are now ready to join the tourism sector and start their culinary careers. Initiated last November, the commis chef programme was designed to respond to the growing skills need identified in the hospitality sector. To date presently in excess of 95% of participants have secured jobs as an outcome of this programme.

A total of 190 participants completed the practical, hands-on, competency based programme which was delivered in 12 locations across the country over an 8-10 week period and provided all the skills a person would need to begin working in a professional hospitality kitchen (see note to editor for a list of participating businesses).

The successful participants can now build on their new expertise and progress on to the culinary apprenticeship currently in development in conjunction with the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) and the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) and others.

John Mulcahy, Head of Hospitality at Fáilte Ireland, said:
“Fáilte Ireland recently developed this new commis chef programme in response to a growing need within the tourism and hospitality industry. We are delighted to be able to provide this opportunity to Ireland’s next generation of aspiring chefs here in Kerry and we have received very encouraging feedback from both participating businesses and students.”
The cookery schools involved have also played a key role in transferring skills, and ensuring that the students find good jobs quickly, particularly as the sector prepared for St Patrick’s Day and Easter, he added. “I would like to congratulate each of the six graduates today together with their instructor Mark Doe, Just Cooking, and wish them all the best in their future culinary careers, where the potential for success is enormous,” said John.

Fáilte Ireland is currently evaluating the completed pilot programme with a view to informing the development of the culinary apprenticeship.