Modern apprenticeships offer a great way to gain valuable industry experience and earn while you train – and Aston Marina has just scooped an award for its forward-thinking approach.
Aston Marina, near Stone, has been offering apprentice places since 2013 – when it ran a small, award-winning bistro alongside its waterside farm shop. More apprenticeships followed with the launch of the marina’s purpose-built wedding and events venue, The Boathouse, in 2015 – but with a major change of direction in 2017, which saw the farm shop close and a much-expanded dining experience launch under the banner No.26 Bar and Dining, a significant number of opportunities were created.
The venue now works with numerous different colleges and training providers to provide apprentices with a great balance of hands-on experience and formal training – and has just been named winner of the Outstanding Contribution to Development of Apprentices (SME) award by the NSGC (Newcastle & Stafford Colleges Group).
Director, Helen Clayton, told A Little Bit of Stone:
“Apprenticeships provide a solid foundation for anyone looking to start their career in the food & drink industry. Whether you are keen on working in the kitchen or front of house, experience of a working restaurant is vital and something you just can’t gain from classroom learning.
Our apprentices are truly part of the team and thrive on being involved in a busy working kitchen. In return, they help to strengthen the team, ensure we strive for consistently high standards and give added job satisfaction for those in mentoring roles.
“Once our apprentices qualify, it’s great to see their careers progress. We have a lot stay on and work their way up the ranks – for example, Ali Gee started with us a few years back as an apprentice and is now a Chef De Partie, while Shizelle Porter started as a Kitchen Porter and is now on her second year of her chef’s apprenticeship. One of our original apprentices, Rosanna Moseley, started with us as a 16-year-old and is now Head Chef at The Oyster Club in Birmingham, having worked her way around some great kitchens and appeared on Masterchef: The Professionals back in 2016. We’re hugely proud of Rosie and our part in her journey, which just goes to show how far an apprenticeship can take you.”
The marina offers between 3 – 5 apprentice places at any one time in a range of roles, including Events Management, Chef, Waiting On, Bar Service, Front of House Supervisor – and pretty much any role involved in the management of a thriving hospitality business.
The business is currently taking applications for a Groundskeeper and Maintenance apprentice to work on the marina’s extensive grounds, with further opportunities due in Spring 2023.
If you’re interested in becoming an apprentice and learning from the marina’s award-winning team, please send your CV to info@astonmarina.co.uk
