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Chef Academy Apprentice
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Role Overview
Learning from our experienced chefs, you would deliver a consistently high standard of quality food, using knowledge of food and hospitality trends to help drive sales whilst contributing to a fantastic customer experience.
Wage
£16,640 to £26,436.80, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
- Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
- Competitive salary
- 25% colleague discount
- 28 days annual leave, increasing each year to a maximum of 33 days (pro rata for part-time colleagues)
- Extra day off for your birthday
Training Course
Commis chef (level 2)
Hours
1 day at college, 4 days at Fenwick. 40 hours a week
Start Date
Tuesday 4 August 2026
Duration
1 year
Positions Available
3
About the Role
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
Would you thrive in a structured apprenticeship programme, learning from expert chefs while gaining a nationally recognised qualification?
After the success of last year’s Chef Academy, we’re delighted to open applications for our next Chef Academy Apprenticeship Programme, in partnership with Gateshead College. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a well-established business and begin your journey as part of our ever-evolving Chef Academy.
With exciting culinary developments including collaborations with local brands and enhanced learning events.
You don’t need prior kitchen experience – just enthusiasm, adaptability, and a willingness to learn. Full training will be provided to successful candidates.
Hosted in our Newcastle flagship store, 4 days per week working alongside our experienced chefs.
Learning: 1 day per week at Gateshead College studying for your Level 2 Commis Chef Apprenticeship qualification.
Experience: Hands on learning in a fast-paced environment, developing the essential skills for a rewarding culinary career.
Learning from our experienced chefs, you would deliver a consistently high standard of quality food, using knowledge of food and hospitality trends to help drive sales whilst contributing to a fantastic customer experience. If working with fresh ingredients and creating food from scratch motivates you, then Fenwick would be an ideal option to start your chef career.
You will rotate between restaurants and our in-house patisserie kitchen, ensuring you have learnt as many skills as you possibly can from this apprenticeship.
Where you'll work
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39 Northumberland Street Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 7AS
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training Provider
GATESHEAD COLLEGE
Training Course
Commis chef (level 2) Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
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 eg 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.
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Training Schedule
This training schedule has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.
Desirable Qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade C/grade 4)
- Maths (grade C/grade 4)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Adaptability
- Willingness to learn
- Passion for cooking
- Interest in chef career
About the Company
Fenwick is the UK’s largest family-owned department store group with a proud heritage and rich history. We are on an exciting journey of investment and transformation, building a future every bit as bold and brilliant as our past. Join us and be part of something special. https://fenwick.co.uk (opens in new tab)
Company Benefits
- Lifeworks – support across all areas of life, including finances, wellbeing, and mental health
- WeCare – access to a 24/7 online GP, mental health support, fitness programmes
- Company pension scheme
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Progression to level 3 catering programmes.
Contact Information
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
GATESHEAD COLLEGE
apprenticeships@gateshead.ac.uk
01914902418
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000041075.
Apply Now
Closes in 13 days (Tuesday 21 July 2026 at 11:59pm)
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