Have you got an appetite for learning? Then a chef apprenticeship could be the perfect way to take your passion for food to the next level.

When you think of a chef career it’s hard not to picture Gordon Ramsey’s high-pressure kitchen or Jamie Oliver campaigning for healthier school dinners. But did you know that both these celebrity chefs started as a chef apprentice? And they’re not the only ones; Clare Smyth, the only female chef to run a three Michelin star restaurant; Heston Blumenthal, who gifted the world with triple-cooked chips among other wonderful inventions; and Masterchef judge, Monica Galetti, also started their careers with a chef apprenticeship. Read on to hear how a chef apprenticeship can kickstart your culinary career.

Learn by doing

If classroom learning doesn’t tickle your taste buds then an apprenticeship could be just for you. The programmes are great for anyone that learns best by doing and likes to get stuck into a task. Of course, you will have coursework to do but you’ll get to use that learning when you’re back in the kitchen. Not only that, but you’ll earn while you get on-the-job training and learn the ropes under the watchful eyes of talented chefs. And remember, you’re never too old to learn and so you’re never too old to do an apprenticeship.

Become a culinary whiz

A chef apprenticeship will teach you how to plate up food to perfection and learn how to make those melt-in-the-mouth dishes and sides that are our guests’ favourites - like our triple cooked chips (thanks Heston). But more than that, you’ll learn all the basics which just so happen to be the most important parts. After all, learning how to prep food, garnish and knowing how to keep a kitchen clean is what makes a great chef. Taking it back to the basics will also help you see what you’ve got a natural flair for, and you’ll be whipping up recipes at home and impressing your friends and family in no time.

Boost your confidence

If there was a checklist for what you need to do chef apprenticeship, it would look something like this: a passion for cooking, a team player, ambition and did we mention a passion for food?The rest of the skills you need to be a successful chef will all be taught to you. Because learning your way around the kitchen is no piece of cake there is a lot to learn when you enrol on a chef apprenticeship. After completing the programme you’ll come out with loads of experience, knowledge and as a result, you’ll get a huge boost to your confidence.

Have fun

A job is all about finding that balance between work hard and play hard. Our chef apprentices will vouch for us when we say there’s plenty of time for fun on a chef apprenticeship and it’s just one of the five reasons why you’ll love an apprenticeship with M&B. If you’re willing to put in the hard work you could be a head chef one day, or if it’s your dream to specialise you can prove yourself as a talented roast chef – or a rotisseur if we’re using the fancy brigade de cuisine terms.

Get a taste for a chef apprenticeship at M&B

So, reckon you could be a chef? With the help our of dedicated kitchen teams you can turn your passion into a chef career. Now we’ve given you a taste for what to expect from a chef apprenticeship you can get more of the details on our chef apprenticeships. Or to hear first-hand from one of our chef apprentices, read Joao Paulo’s experience of gaining his Commis Chef Level 2 certificate.