Creating brighter futures

My name is Gary, and I recently completed the adult Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installations.

May I start by saying; having been one of the eldest students on the course I found the thought of undertaking this course a little daunting. It has been a very long time since I was expected to study and undertake exams, assessments etc. From the first classroom session it was clear that the teaching staff were very good in their professional fields, their teaching techniques were second to none, they took time to explain lessons and more importantly actively encouraged questions, regardless of if it seemed daft or not. They would take time to deliver the question in a simpler form and patiently explain the outcome, making the whole process pleasurable (believe it or not).

The teaching staff would encourage a positive attitude when it came to undertaking essential exams to progress the course to the next stage. Those who were a little unfortunate to miss out on a pass would be offered additional help and reassured that the exam would be passed. They were very sympathetic and supportive if someone did not make the grade at that particular time, and the course candidates were actively encouraged to work together and help each other, which was very refreshing to see.

Again, Lee’s, Andy’s, and Mark’s knowledge in practical sessions greatly helped to get to the result, a pass on the course. No matter how many times things needed to be explained or demonstrated they would be patient and approach various ways to explain and demonstrate the task being undertaken. Their knowledge of electrical principles was outstanding and made the course even more enjoyable.

In my opinion they are an asset to Weston College, and with tutors of this calibre I can only see Weston College going very far in the education world. The commitment these staff have to get their students through the course is again outstanding, despite the long hours put in to deliver the course while teaching daytime students.

My name is Richard Perks, and I am a professional chef living in Canada with my family!

I started my career at Weston College, completing the NVQ1-2 Professional Catering course from 2001-2003, which helped me lay the foundation of cooking basics. I had an interest in catering from a young age as my father and grandmother are both very good cooks, and I enjoyed cooking with them as a child. I made the decision to study at Weston College as I wanted to develop this passion into a career, and I knew Weston would give me the best opportunity to turn my dream into a reality. Furthermore, I knew Weston would have the best catering department in the local area, including top-of-the-range facilities and incredible teachers.

Through the course at Weston College, I was lucky enough to travel to Italy for work experience. My time in Italy went so well that I was asked to stay and continue the work I was doing for Massimo Spigaroli, who was known as the ‘Italian Salami King’. Through my work for Massimo, I attended an Italian university and studied traditional Italian cuisine. Just before graduating from this university, I was sent to a Michelin starred restaurant for work experience. After graduation I went on to work for Corrado Azensa (the pastry chef featured in season 4, episode 2 of ‘Chef’s Table Pastry’ on Netflix).

After living in Sicily and working for Corrado for a year and a half, I moved to Hong Kong for 6 months to work at an Italian restaurant. I enjoyed Hong Kong; it was certainly different than living in Sicily. After a short stint in Hong Kong, I moved back to Italy for a few more years under Massimo in Parma.

I then returned to the UK and lived and worked in London for a Michelin restaurant as well as working under Head Chef Malcolm Campbell for a short period. Malcolm Campbell is now a top chef in Canada and a good family friend of ours.

I then moved to Australia, and I was Senior Sous Chef in one of a top 10 restaurant in Western Australia. I then met my wife and moved to Canada after 7 years in Perth. Since I've been in Canada, I have worked at Pinestone Golf Club as a job during the pandemic. From there I moved out to Nova Scotia to work at Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs, which are both in the top 10 public golf courses in the whole of North America.

From there, I have taken an Executive Chef role in a very good private school, just outside of Toronto. We serve a Marche-Style service to 1000 people a day. From homemade lasagne and pizza all the way to sushi bars. The change of pace is due to being a father to two very young children and looking for the right work-life balance. Since being at the school I have reached the Canadian Chefs Cup final two years running; I came 5th in my first year and last year I placed 3rd. I will be running again this year, hoping to place 1st.

My favourite part of working as a chef is the opportunity it provides to travel the world and experience so many different cultures and foods. If I had decided to enter into a different industry, I would not have had the incredible experiences I’ve had!

I have had so many highlights in my career and I could never pick just one, but a favourite from recent years has been competing in the Canada Chefs Cup. In my personal life though, raising my two children and being the best father I can be, is the most important part.

In recent times, a memorable success has been winning the International World Catering Championships, where I won Gold for Canada.

I originally came third in the Aramark's Canadian Chef's cup in April 2023, which I was very pleased with. Later in the year Adrian Salalac (the winner) contacted me to be his sous chef for team Canada. I was honoured to and we spent the last 4/5 months practicing and preparing for the finals.

We were up against 9 other teams, the champs of South America, Chile, UK, Czech Republic, China, South Korea, Germany, Belgium and Spain.

The final went over 2 days. The first day you had to prepare your written menu and collect all your ingredients you would need from the mystery store and common pantry. Then cold prep your menu within 2 hours. The following day we had 3 hours to prepare 3 courses for 4 people, the starter had to be vegan. <>The mystery store had local proteins and produce from Canada. Things like elk shoulder, whole duck, whole pickerel (a fish), scallops, cod, wild boar belly, honeycomb, rhubarb, birch syrup, local mushrooms, lentils and local pulses.

The teams were all very strong and approached the challenge differently. It was so much fun networking with chefs from around the world.

Here is a recap video of the final!

My start at Weston College really set the precedent for the rest of my career; being able to travel abroad for work experience in my first two years of studying inspired me to continue travelling the world and resulted in my extremely successful career so far. I can’t wait to see where it takes me next!

Find out about our Catering & Hospitality courses, here!

We are excited to announce that three students from Weston College have made it to the WorldSkills National Finals, a huge achievement in their education and careers!  

WorldSkills is a technical skills competition that enables young people to showcase their skills to the highest standard. The event features several stages – regional, national and international – and around 50 skills areas. These include beauty therapy, web design, hairdressing, cookery, electrical installation plus plumbing and heating. WorldSkills UK aims to improve the prestige of apprenticeships and technical education and inspire more young people to consider these as career routes. 

The Weston College students heading to the National Finals are: 

• Amber Hinton in Foundation Skills Health and Social Care 
• Jack Stevens in Foundation Skills Horticulture 
• Aiden Pocknell in Welding 

As these students get ready for the next stage of the competition, they serve as an inspiration to their peers and future generations. The finals in Manchester this November will be an exciting event, showcasing the best of technical skills in the UK. 

If you're interested in getting involved with WorldSkills, click here to find out more. Speak to your tutor and find out what opportunities are available to you.