Shu’s helping hand for budding chefs

Do you know your sauté from your simmer?

Do you have a passion for all things culinary and an ability to rival any young MasterChef hopeful?

If so, and if you’re aged between 16 and 24 and are looking for a serious career in chefing, then SHU restaurant in Belfast wants to hear from you.

For the first time ever, SHU is opening the doors of its kitchen on the Lisburn Road to four of the best young cooks in Northern Ireland, as it launches the SHU Chef Apprentice Programme in partnership with Belfast Metropolitan College.

The new Apprenticeship programme has been launched within SHU’s ‘Centre for Cooking Excellence’, which is run by head chef, Brian McCann, former Great British Menu star, who says that now has never been a better time to launch the programme.

“At SHU we are serious about nurturing, inspiring and shaping the very best talent entering the hospitality industry, to help them become exceptional chefs able to work anywhere in the world,” he added. “This is a brilliant opportunity for four young people who aren’t afraid of hard work and have a genuine desire to work as a professional chef.

The SHU Chef Apprenticeship Programme is one-year long and will commence on September 1. Students will spend three days working in the SHU kitchen learning classical French and Modern European-inspired cooking. They will also spend two days at college, learning the theory and practical elements of the job within the Belfast Met curriculum..

Christine Brown, head of Belfast Business School at Belfast Metropolitan College says that the college is delighted to be involved in this partnership with SHU.

“A collaboration like this which allows employer engagement at its centre is critical to the college and maximises opportunities for careers in the industry,” she adds.

“It also ensures that our curriculum meets the needs of the industry and gives the next generation of employees the real-job skills to succeed in the workplace.”

On successful completion of the apprenticeship, students will receive a City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Professional Cookery.

Our picture shows Brian McCann, former Great British Menu star and head chef at SHU with with Christine Brown, head of Belfast Business School at Belfast Metropolitan College and Alan Reid, owner, SHU restaurant.