Activate Apprenticeships onboards first cohort of Senior Production Chefs with Hall & Woodhouse 

Activate Apprenticeships are delighted to onboard their first cohort of Senior Production Chef Level 3 Apprentices from Hall & Woodhouse.

Hall & Woodhouse, a family-run business, operate 180 pubs in the South of England, are partnering with Activate Apprenticeships.

The first cohort of apprentices were onboarded at Reading College and University Centre’s very own restaurant, The Kitchen on Tuesday 4 November.

The apprentices will start their training in January, at Reading College and University Centre.

The apprenticeship will last for eight months, instead of the traditional, longer length.

Activate Apprenticeships is the fourth provider that Hall & Woodhouse is working with to train their chefs, across the country. The other training providers include Chichester College, Bournemouth and Poole College and Exeter College.

During their apprenticeship, they will be taught different food preparation techniques including sauces, poultry preparation, desserts, and seafood preparation.

At the end of their apprenticeship, the apprentices will take over The Kitchen and run a service showcasing their skills with some complex dishes.

Ryan Jenkins, 29, from Bracknell, is a Chef de Partie working at Hall & Woodhouse Taplow in Buckinghamshire.

He said: “Having worked in the hospitality industry for six years, I’m looking forward to furthering my knowledge and skills and gaining a better understanding during my apprenticeship.

“I think that this will be a really good opportunity for me which will enable me to advance within Hall & Woodhouse, to become a Sous Chef and then a Head Chef in the future.”

Dawn Hoskins, Business Engagement Specialist at Activate Apprenticeships, said:

“We are delighted to announce our collaboration with Hall & Woodhouse to deliver the first eight-month Hospitality Apprenticeship Standard.

“This partnership is an exciting step forward in developing exceptional talent within the hospitality industry, combining Hall & Woodhouse’s renowned operational excellence with our commitment to high-quality training and career development.

“Together, we aim to provide apprentices with an inspiring and practical learning journey that equips them with the skills, knowledge and confidence to thrive in hospitality careers.”

Jill Meyerhoff, Head of Recruitment and Immigration at Hall & Woodhouse, said:

“At Hall & Woodhouse, we want to give everyone the best opportunity to be supported and succeed.

“Working with Activate Apprenticeships is brilliant, as it allows us to create a bespoke apprenticeship that benefits everyone.

“Training our apprentices at Reading College enables us to develop our chefs in a location which is closer and more convenient for them, equipping them with the skills they will need for a successful career with us at Hall & Woodhouse.”