Aiden Byrne as Principal Patron will open the new Whites Chef Academy at Macclesfield College tomorrow evening. School leavers and their parents can meet Byrne who will be available throughout the evening to discuss career opportunities in hospitality and catering.
Taking place tomorrow, Thursday 18th October 5pm – 8pm, at its state-of-the-art campus on Park Lane, Macclesfield, the College’s first Open Evening of the autumn – open to the general public and aimed specifically at school leavers and adult learners – promises to be a truly unmissable occasion, with a wide and diverse range of demonstrations, displays and activities on offer throughout the event.
As proud sponsors of Macclesfield Town, the College will also be giving people the opportunity to have their photograph taken with the Vanarama National League Trophy, currently held by the Silkmen following their championship-winning 2017-18 season. Entertainment will be provided by a local DJ, who will be playing music in the College’s main rotunda.
All visitors will be given the chance to meet with key representatives from each College department to explore their options and discuss their future prospects, before being invited to a sneak preview of the new Whites Chef Academy, which will be officially operational from September 2019.
Aiden Byrne. Executive Head Chef, 20 Stories and Principal Patron of Whites Chef AcademyIn addition to local MP David Rutley, the evening will also be attended by Michelin Star-winning celebrity chef Aiden Byrne. Executive Head Chef of 20 Stories – the gleaming jewel in Manchester’s gastronomic crown – Aiden is also the Principal Patron of Whites Chef Academy. He will be on hand throughout the evening to meet with school leavers and parents about the catering industry and the exciting and varied career opportunities it presents, as well as the routes available to enrol at Whites Chef Academy in time for September 2019.
Students enrolled at the new Whites Chef Academy will study a full-time, Level 2 course in Professional Cookery. On completion of their course, they will then progress to a guaranteed apprenticeship with some of the region’s top companies, including restaurants, hotels and catering organisations.
Running consecutively with the Open Evening, Macclesfield College is also hosting a high priority launch event for the Whites Chef Academy – taking place between 6:30pm and 7:30pm – and has invited key stakeholders and guests from across the region to attend. Those invited will be offered a complimentary glass of prosecco on arrival – courtesy of Stockport-based brewing giant and friend of the College, Frederic Robinson Limited. They will then be given a guided tour of the new facilities, as well as the opportunity to meet with Aiden and the College’s dynamic Principal and Chief Executive, Rachel Kay.
“I’ve been working closely with Aiden Byrne over the past eight months, to ensure the Whites Chef Academy will be the success we’re all hoping for,” confirms Rachel. “A huge range of people have helped in the curation of this new facility and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their hard work and dedication.”
For more information about the Whites Chef Academy and the forthcoming Open Evening, please visit the news page on Macclesfield College’s website
H&C News Comment: Being aimed specifically at school leavers, parents and adult learners this event is set up to bring new people into our industry. The people and skills shortages in our industry that we all too often report on, coupled with the impending Brexit, whatever that will ultimately look like, means that events like this are vital. Not just to the college, but to our wider industry. The support from people like Aiden Byrne will showcase what can be achieved through working in hospitality and catering, and we applaud and support that.