In our industry, talk of the talent shortage is nothing new, however the problem remains very real…. 89% of Hospitality recruitment firms have seen the demand for skilled chefs increase over the last three years (1). It’s safe to say the sheer lack of talent has reached boiling point.
At CHEF we are working hard to stand up for skills and tackle the talent shortage head on…
This month marks the launch of NESTLÉ PROFESSIONAL Toque d’Or 2017, which at 29 years old is one of the longest standing competitions in the industry. Offering life changing experiences to hospitality students, the 2017 competition sees 24 teams from colleges around the UK battle it out for a place in the Grand Finals in March. The competition is a hotbed for upcoming chef talent - the industry stars of tomorrow - and at CHEF we are working with aspiring chefs and managers to build and develop their skills and help them succeed in the Industry.
As a Toque d’Or judge, esteemed Chef Andrej Prokes - former Executive Sous Chef at The Ritz London and Sous Chef at The Fat Duck in Bray and now Consultant for CHEF - is at the helm of the talent trail. Not only has he co-created the menu that students will be tasked to create during the regional heats, but he will be amongst the Industry movers and shakers on hand over the course of the competition to offer advice and guidance to the future stars.
Beyond the competition, CHEF continues to invest in and support the development of young chefs. One way we have done this is by hiring Chris Davis - a former NESTLÉ PROFESSIONAL Toque d’Or winner - as Junior Development Chef, working under the supervision of Andrej Prokes. Chris says, “Working with CHEF has been an incredible experience so far. It has helped me to further my culinary knowledge through practical development, and has supported me in developing the general business knowledge required for my future Hospitality career.”
This year’s NESTLÉ PROFESSIONAL Toque d’Or competition is in partnership with CHEF. For further information go to www.nestle-toquedor.co.uk. You can also find us on social media on Facebook - Nestlé Professional Toque d’Or - and on Twitter @NestleToquedor #Toquedor2017
NEW FOR 2017 is Toque d’Or Apprentice, which is open to craft apprentices at a Commis Chef level. To register an apprentice, employers should email [email protected] by 26th January with the subject line: ‘Toque d’Or Apprentice Registration’
>>> CLICK THIS LINK TO DOWNLOAD A DIGITAL VERSION OF TOQUE APPRENTICE BROCHURE
(1) The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) research, November 2016
