News and events

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.  

My name is Jodine, and I study Business, Management and Leadership as a T Level at Weston College!

During my industry placement as part of my T Level at Sytner Mercedes-Benz in Weston-super-Mare, I experienced nothing but excellence. From the moment I stepped through the door, I was warmly welcomed into the Mercedes family.

This placement not only allowed me to delve into the intricacies of the automotive industry but also provided me with a profound self-discovery journey. As I shadowed various individuals within the sales and service team, I gained invaluable insights into each role and its responsibilities, enabling me to define my future career aspirations, which ultimately led to me getting an amazing job opportunity and joining the team.

The managers consistently cultivate an environment where individuals feel esteemed and acknowledged, demonstrating a commitment to approachability and supportiveness. Mercedes-Benz is a community where you seamlessly become part of the family.

The real gems of this experience were the people. They are not just colleagues; they are treasures who are always ready to lend a helping hand, brighten your day, and ensure you feel like an integral part of the family. In retrospect, the people I encountered at Sytner Mercedes-Benz were the defining factor in making my industry placement truly exceptional.

I have cultivated a diverse skill set integral to the field of business management. My experiences have honed my commercial awareness, refined my communication skills, bolstered my self-confidence, and heightened my emotional intelligence.

I have demonstrated initiative, excelled in information retention, and showcased problem-solving abilities, critical thinking, and analytical prowess. Moreover, my resilience and adaptability have been tested and proven, complemented by strong social skills, adept teamwork, and proficient listening capabilities. This comprehensive skill set positions me as a valuable asset in the realm of business management.

My placement at Mercedes-Benz has proven to be instrumental in enhancing my academic pursuits in business management. Applying theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios, I have honed my communication skills, cultivated a nuanced understanding of customer service and complaint resolution, and observed first-hand the dynamics of managerial and team meetings.

Additionally, the experience has been invaluable in advancing my IT proficiency, providing exposure to sales and aftersales processes, fostering teamwork strategies, and refining problem-solving methodologies. I have been able to see how managers put the methods, tools, and skills I have learned in my business management course into practice with the employees. The challenges encountered during the placement have fortified my resilience, contributing to a comprehensive and enriched learning journey that seamlessly complements my academic curriculum.

Following the completion of this industry placement, I am thrilled to have been offered employment at Sytner Mercedes-Benz! I am excited to start my career, and would recommend taking the Business, Management and Leadership T Level because the work experience element of the course can open many doors.

Thank you for reading!

Sytner Mercedes-Benz Weston-super-Mare:

“Since starting Jodine has been brilliant, engaged, welcoming to customers and we have already had comments from customers on how helpful she is”

“Jodine has been excellent and her presentation that she presented to the management team was exceptional, well thought out and she used the time she had here to record a huge amount of information whilst working in each department. This led to a really good understanding of how our business operated.”