Catering and hospitality staff at The Sheffield College are celebrating winning a national education award.
The college has been awarded a Professional Association for Catering Education (PACE) Award.
PACE represents hospitality and catering further education with a regional and national network of members including colleges, schools and universities.
The organisation encourages catering educational institutions to work together to manage ongoing change within hospitality and catering education and training.
In this year’s awards, announced at PACE’s conference in Blackpool earlier this year, college lecturers won the best culinary team category. The award was presented to staff on 5th May 2023.
Darren Foden, Academy Director, Events, Hospitality and Food Technologies, The Sheffield College, said: “We are delighted to win this award. We have a great teaching team with an in-depth knowledge of the catering and hospitality industry.
“Staff pride themselves on the positive impact their teaching and skills have on students, inspiring them to go further in their careers, and they are proud to work for the College, which has recently been graded ‘good’ by Ofsted.”
He explained: “Our supported Level 1 students are given not only the building block of skills for their careers, they also receive support and guidance for life skills such as independent living. At Level 2, students’ skills are further developed through taking part in competitions and making industry connections for employment.
“Level 3 offers students a wide range of opportunities with employers including visiting guest chefs and taking part in high profile competitions such as Young Pastry Chef of the Year, Young Restaurant Team of the Year and Zest Quest Asia.
“We also get involved in employer set projects. Recently, we were commissioned by Chatsworth House to create a chocolate centrepiece for the Great Dining Room.
“Meanwhile, our flagship Silver Plate Restaurant, which is popular with the public, provides high quality cuisine and service, and does an excellent job training and preparing our students for their future careers.”
Student Eric Schofield, 19, is completing a Professional Cookery Diploma at Level 3, at the college, and his ambition is to travel and work as a chef on cruises or planes.
Eric said: “I'm very happy that the catering department has won this award and the recognition that comes with it. All the staff will do anything they can to help us progress. I wouldn't have the same chances to do the things I have now and in future, if it wasn't for them.”
Eric added: “I chose the course because it was the next step for me to become a chef and work in the industry and due to the great facilities and reputation the college has for the catering department.
“One thing that has benefited me is the opportunities my lecturers have given me including trips and guest chef nights where we can meet potential employers and learn from those working in the industry right now. I also enjoy the Thursday evening restaurant services which help us to practise for working in a kitchen.”
Eric said: “I'm very happy that the catering department has won this award and the recognition that comes with it. All the staff will do anything they can to help us progress. I wouldn't have had the chance to do the things I have, and to achieve the things I will go on to do, if it wasn't for them.”
The Sheffield College offers a range of bakery, catering and hospitality, and patisserie courses, and the staff regularly win national industry awards. Find out more about catering and hospitality courses starting in September 2023 and the Silver Plate Restaurant.
