Ever wondered who creates the next big food product?

As an Apprentice Development Chef, you'll work with experienced professionals to develop, test and launch exciting new products while gaining valuable skills, practical experience and a recognised qualification.

As our new apprentice you will focus on creating, testing and improving new food products for large-scale production. Unlike a traditional chef, who prepares and serves dishes in a kitchen, a Development Chef works on recipe innovation, product consistency and emerging consumer trends.

You will receive full training, mentoring and support throughout your apprenticeship.

Your main duties will include:

• Assisting the New Product Development team in developing commercially viable products for our customers
• Taking every opportunity to learn the skills required to become a successful Development Chef, including product knowledge, nutrition and commercial awareness
• Developing a strong interest in food, ingredients and emerging food trends, while building useful industry contacts and resources
• Building effective working relationships across all areas of the business
• Supporting the Process team with product trials and launches to ensure successful factory scale-up and develop your operational knowledge
• Assisting the Development team in promoting a strong food culture and championing our food values both internally and externally
• Accurately inputting recipes onto the development system and ensuring raw materials are sourced in a timely manner to support the costing process
• Supporting Development Chefs with customer presentations while learning the skills and techniques needed to confidently lead presentations independently in the future
• Learning about the ingredients, methods and processes used within the kitchen, and understanding how they translate into factory production

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Course contents:

• Selects correct knife for task.
• Uses knives effectively and efficiently.
• Selects ingredients of the right quality that support sustainability and seasonality.
• Weighs, measures, and scales ingredients.
• Cooks from fresh producing complete dishes.
• Prepares, cooks, and finishes meat, offal, game, poultry, fish, and shellfish from whole; trim, de-vein, portion, break down, bone, skin, fillet, shell.
• Prepares, cooks, and finishes fruit vegetables.
• Prepares, cooks, and finishes sauces.
• Prepares, cooks and finishes pureed and cream soup and stock based dishes.
• Prepares and cooks noodles, and fresh or convenience pasta.
• Prepares and cooks pulses and grains, including long and short grain rice.
• Prepares, cooks and finishes eggs or egg based dishes.
• Prepares, cooks and finishes leavened and unleavened dough products.
• Prepares, cooks and finishes sweet and savoury pastry products using short, sweet, and choux.
• Prepares, cooks, and finishes scones, biscuits, sponge cakes, and non-sponge cakes.
• Prepares, produces, and finishes hot and cold desserts.
• Stuffs, fills and panés across food types.
• Prepares and cooks dishes using alternative ingredients e.g. plant based, gluten free.
• Prepares fresh ingredients, including from whole, using them across a menu to reduce waste and improve sustainability
• Uses seasoning, spices, rubs, and marinades to flavour ingredients.
• Sears, grills, deep fries, shallow fries, stir fries, sautés, braises, stews, bakes, roasts, boils, poaches across food types.
• Portions, plates, finishes, garnishes, and presents individual dishes.
• Exercises portion control and acts to maximise yield.
• Achieves intended quality in terms of texture, flavour, and appearance
• Identifies and resolves errors during the production process.
• Assists in the resolution of feedback, complaints, and issues.
• Prepares, cleans and uses manual and electrical food-preparation and cooking equipment and machinery safely, correctly and efficiently.
• Applies food safety and allergen procedures, including monitoring temperatures, during preparation, cooking, and holding.
• Selects and applies hygiene management techniques to maintain a safe clean work environment, including personal hygiene, PPE, and uniform.
• Complies with health and safety legislation, regulations, guidelines and procedures.
• Undertakes stock control, storage, and rotation.
• Applies food safety and allergen procedures, and monitors and records food temperatures, on delivery and in storage.
• Follows equity, diversity and inclusion legislation and organisational policies.
• Uses techniques for maintaining good mental health and wellbeing to support self and others, including asking for and giving help with daily tasks.
• Communicates with colleagues, manager and other stakeholders in a professional manner.
• Works as part of a team to support service delivery.
• Uses feedback to improve own performance.
• Manages own time to ensure tasks are completed.