Meet the Apprentice 2019

Meet Emma Rigby, age 17 from Troon who is a Commis Chef at Lochgreen House Hotel in Troon.

We asked Emma how she became a Modern Apprentice and about her journey so far.

“I first started working in the hotel on a Saturday when I was 15.  I really enjoyed working there and when I turned 16 I was offered the role of Commis Chef, so I left school.

I heard about Modern Apprenticeships while I was still at school, so a few months after I started working at the hotel, my manager got in touch with Ayrshire College, and I started from there and took the opportunity to up my skills.

I work 5 days a week at the hotel as my apprenticeship is work-based, which means that the assessor comes in every 4 or 5 weeks to see how I’m getting on. I’ll receive a Level 5 Professional Cookery qualification when I finish.

I run the starter section now, so once I come into work at 9am, I organise all of the prep for the starter dishes.

During the week it can be quieter, but then it hits the weekend and it can be around 70 covers.  If there’s a function on, it can be another 100 on top of that, so I’m always busy.

I find that the course is quite manageable around my day job.  I’m keen to do the next level, and I’m almost finished the course.

I’m loving what I do.  The modern apprenticeship will definitely help me later on in my career and be a big help for my future plans.

I’d like to work in London and work in a Michelin star restaurant.  From there, I’d love to work in either Italy or Australia.”

Find out more about our Professional Cookery courses.

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