Held as part of the AAC FE Week yearly conference, the judges acknowledged the quality of placement offered by the University across multiple employers for catering and hospitality working with six out of the seven Michelin star restaurants throughout the region on Royal Academy Culinary Arts apprenticeships, as well as Compass, Amadeus and numerous SMEs that make up the area’s bustling hospitality scene.

The judges recognised University College Birmingham’s strong links to industry and close partnerships with stakeholders, who guide the parameters of the qualifications and are involved in the writing of schemes of work, ensuring that all training is current and relevant to sector. 

The institution trains 70 culinary apprentices throughout the Midlands who benefit from outstanding personal development including competitions, including a record haul at Hotelympia last year, and trips to suppliers.

The judges were also impressed by the institution’s outstanding facilities, the quality of teaching and learning, its links with the Royal Academy that enable to target such a wide variety of hospitality outlets in Birmingham, its high pass rate in culinary arts apprenticeships and its ability to pair employers up with the right apprentices via a strong successful selection process.

Stuart Wildsmith, apprenticeship account manager (Culinary Arts) & Royal Academy of Culinary Arts lecturer said of the win: “This was a team effort. From the team here at University College Birmingham to the team of stakeholders who contribute with advice, guidance and employment, and of course the apprentices themselves who, when completing, go on to rewarding careers in professional cookery.

“Hospitality in the UK is struggling with high prices, wages and utilities and since Covid, kitchens in the Midlands have been hard hit with people leaving the industry.

“We are plugging that gap with forward-thinking employers and offering apprentices the opportunity to make a difference and see why culinary roles are so incredibly rewarding.

“We are all in this together. We will continue to speak to and support all employers big or small across the Midlands and beyond to see how an apprentice could work for them.”

University College Birmingham has almost 700 apprentices in a variety of different sectors and disciplines across the whole of the UK, and continues to champion the role apprenticeships can play in tackling the skills gap both in the region and beyond.