‘I can definitely say that being an apprentice has been the best thing I have ever done – it has opened up so many doors for me. I really appreciated, as a mature student, the opportunity to study with the superb support offered by the College, Tutors and Training Co-Ordinator – Liz.

In my former life I worked for the Civil Service but always yearned for a career in cookery. After leaving to have my family, I found a part-time job in a hotel kitchen but my boss at the time recognized that I was keen to learn and encouraged me to get proper training and put me in touch with Northbrook College Apprenticeship Team.

I was anxious at first – especially at the interview but I was accepted onto the Level 2 Professional Cookery apprenticeship which I started shortly afterwards.

I thoroughly enjoyed the training in the College – the tutors brought everything to life and were so helpful and keen to support everyone in the class.

I did have to do keyskills as my GCSEs were taken some time ago! However, I received intensive support by the tutors and my Training Co-ordinator and achieved these after a couple of attempts. Achieving a Maths and English keyskills qualification had never been part of my career aim but I can say with a great deal of satisfaction that having these keyskills has really helped me in my career and in my personal life too!

I now work for a newly opened Restaurant in Brighton called Brighton Temptations. All the staff employed at the restaurant are either ex apprentices from Northbrook who have finished their training or are still on apprenticeship training with Northbrook – this includes the owner who also trained at Northbrook. The Restaurant is proving very successful and already new venues are being opened.

In summary, I really have valued the flexibility offered by both the apprenticeship scheme and by my employer.

‘I can definitely say that this is the best thing that has ever happened to me – it has been a life changing experience’