Chefs Academy launches Devon Bursary

The Ashburton Chefs Academy has launched a new scheme designed to encourage and support new culinary talent throughout Devon to launch a career in catering.

The Ashburton Cookery School & Chefs Academy is one of the UKs leading private culinary schools and offers a range of chef qualifications in the Culinary Arts and Patisserie, training hundreds of aspiring chefs each year.

Now, the culinary school wants to encourage more young people to train for a career in hospitality and catering and has launched a new Devon Bursary designed to do just that.

“Since the challenges of Covid and the more recent Cost of Living crisis, there has been a constant narrative that hospitality is always in crisis, and this is contributing to the perception that working in our sector not a secure or even rewarding career choice.”, says Chef Director, Darrin Hosegrove.

“But the reality is that there is a greater demand for skilled and qualified chefs in Devon than ever before and employers have greatly improved the working conditions, the hours as well as the wages to attract and retain talent within their businesses over the past few years. Devon hospitality is crying out for skilled and motivated chefs and that’s where we want to help.”, he adds.

Designed to help launch the careers of the next generation of culinary talent, the Devon Bursary is open to all Devon residents between 18 and 26 years old who are passionate about food and cookery and want to turn that passion into a career. The bursary will cover 30% of the cost of the course and accommodation.

“If you enjoy cooking and are motivated to do well, working as a chef is one of the most rewarding careers you can have and there really has never been a better time to consider a career in food, whether that is working as a chef in a top restaurant, opening your own café of bistro or launching a food business”, says Chef Darrin.

Former graduates include former BBC Masterchef: the Professionals winner, Laurence Henry, who has recently opened Cleaver & Wake, a new fine dining restaurant in Nottingham, as well as Jane Dunn who is famed for her best selling Jane’s Patisserie books and appearances on television.

Full details of the Devon Bursary can be found on our website here.