Steve Groves Culinary Academy launches at Restaurant Associates

Restaurant Associates has launched the Steve Groves Culinary Academy, a new initiative designed to nurture and develop culinary talent across its Restaurant Associates Venues portfolio.

The Academy forms a central part of the business’s learning and development strategy and represents a significant investment in the future of its chefs, with a focus on skills progression, confidence building and long-term career development.

The first intake of 12 chefs, Cohort One, began the programme last month, marking the latest step in Restaurant Associates’ ongoing commitment to raising standards across its kitchens.

A structured pathway for chef development

The Steve Groves Culinary Academy is a Level 3 apprenticeship programme delivered in partnership with HIT Training, with each participant following a personalised development plan tailored to their experience and career ambitions.

Delivered over 18 months, the programme combines hands-on culinary training with structured leadership development, supporting chefs in refining their technical skills while building the broader capabilities required to progress within the hospitality industry.

Restaurant Associates said the Academy was designed to support chefs as they develop both professionally and personally, with a clear focus on long-term career progression.

Learning beyond the kitchen

As part of the hands-on training, chefs will take part in a series of external learning experiences, including visits to key suppliers and flagship venues within the Restaurant Associates portfolio.

Participants will visit Direct Seafood to gain insight into fish and shellfish preparation, as well as Glyndebourne Opera House, where they will experience premium service environments in action and see how culinary and front-of-house teams operate together at the highest level.

Steve Groves: from competition kitchens to development leadership

The Academy is named after Steve Groves, group development chef at Restaurant Associates Venues, whose career spans competition success, senior kitchen leadership and chef development roles.

Steve first came to wider public attention after winning MasterChef: The Professionals in 2009. He later went on to win National Chef of the Year, cementing his reputation as one of the UK’s leading competition chefs. Steve also competed on Great British Menu, representing the South East region.

Beyond competition, he has built a strong profile within the industry through his work in chef development and education, including serving as chair of judges for the Craft Guild of Chefs Young National Chef of the Year competition.

His career has increasingly centred on education, mentorship and raising standards across large culinary teams, shaping his approach to long-term chef development within Restaurant Associates.

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Roast lamb rack, shoulder croquette, caponata

A programme rooted in experience

Speaking about the launch of the Academy, Steve said: “The talent within our business is extraordinary, and I’m excited to see how the Culinary Academy will unlock even greater growth and development for our chefs.

"The programme is designed to challenge, inspire and support individuals as they raise their standards and reach their full potential."

Investing in future talent

Restaurant Associates is one of the UK’s leading hospitality businesses, delivering high-end food and drink experiences across cultural, heritage and corporate venues, including Glyndebourne, the Design Museum and Maris G’s brasseries in Kensington and Fulham.

With recruitment, retention and skills development continuing to challenge the hospitality sector, Restaurant Associates said the launch of the Steve Groves Culinary Academy reinforced its commitment to developing chef talent from within and creating clear progression routes for the next generation.