Gloucestershire College to stage Hospitality Industry Taster Days for local schools in Association with The Chef’s Forum Academy

After an extremely successful Hospitality Industry Taster Day held at our Forest of Dean Campus last February, the college will repeat the event this year, this time at both Cheltenham and the new, state-of-the-art Forest of Dean Campus in Cinderford.

The Cheltenham event will take place on 27 February and the Forest of Dean event will take place on 6 March.  This will ensure that feeder schools across both campuses have a chance to attend the experiential line-up of demos and all things food!

GCSE students can expect a two hour showcase of culinary expertise, canapés, and butchery at both events. Local schools are being urged to register their interest in their year 9,10 and 11 pupils taking part. The Cheltenham Campus event is already fully booked.

The identical events will see Alex Byrne of Award-winning Walter Rose & Son butchers join forces with National Chef of the Year Kuba Winkowski (The Feathered Nest, Oxford) to showcase game butchery and some delicious recipes.

Martyn Watkins of St David’s Hotel, Cardiff and Andy Chan of Thornbury Castle (Bristol) will also be showcasing some of their signature dishes, sweet and savoury.

To top it off, the students will be given a ‘round-the-world tour’ of herbs and spices by Sam Guarino of seasoning company Santa Maria UK.

The event aims to showcase how rewarding and exciting a career in the sector can be, and inspire young chefs and industry stars of the future.

The young guests will be welcomed with non-alcoholic ‘mocktails’ created and served by GC hospitality students. There will also a number of canapés on offer, to be prepared by GC catering students alongside professional chefs from The Chefs Forum.

On the day, year 9, 10 and 11 students from the local schools will be given the opportunity to speak to representatives from The Chefs’ Forum and GC catering and hospitality lecturers about careers in the industry, learning at our Cheltenham and Forest of Dean campuses.

Chefs’ Forum Founder, Catherine Farinha, stated: “It was a real honour to be asked to hold this event at the college again this year, even more so as we’re mirroring the event across two campuses. If a handful of students who attend the event are inspired to study catering and hospitality as a result of the fantastic industry experts on show, then our work is done.  We are collectively showcasing how fantastic a career in the industry can be!”

Jo O’Connell, Head of School for Hospitality and Catering, said:“Last year’s event was thoroughly enjoyed by all, and it was fantastic to see so many young faces inspired to consider careers in catering and hospitality, with demonstrations by talented local chefs and industry experts – we can’t wait to host this year’s event across both campuses.”

For more information on Catering and Hospitality at Gloucestershire College please click here.