14 | Tees Business
Serving the Teesside Business Community | 15
Shaun Thompson has just completed an
Apprenticeship in Professional Cookery Level Two.
Boost your
business
with an
apprentice
D
COLLEGE HELPS BAKER STREET
CAFE GROW ITS TEAM
Talented students from Middlesbrough College are being snapped up by employers across
Teesside. Tees Business hears more about about one of the latest to secure a permanent role.
T
he latest Middlesbrough College
student to be offered a permanent
position is Shaun Thompson, who’s just
completed an Apprenticeship in Professional
Cookery Level Two.
Shaun is satisfying the appetites of
discerning visitors at one of Teesside’s
fastest developing retail and leisure areas.
The 24-year-old has joined the team
at Chilli Cake Deli at Baker Street in
Middlesbrough, and is progressing to
Level Three Apprenticeship in Hospitality
Supervision.
Lynne Alderson, director of programme
for service industries and retail skills at
Middlesbrough College, said: “It’s always
great news when we see a student or
apprentice being offered a permanent role
and we are thrilled for Shaun.
“He joins a long list of former students
who are now doing what they love.
“Middlesbrough College has a long
tradition of delivering first class training in
catering and hospitality and the chefs we
have trained are now working in some of the
best restaurants and hotel kitchens in this
country and overseas.
“We believe in offering students as many
opportunities to add to their learning as
possible, and we help them to secure work
experience in many different places.
“We work with many local employers
including the highly-talented teams at the
Thistle Hotel Middlesbrough, Gisborough
Hall, Brasserie Hudson Quay, Real Meals
Saltburn and Chilli Cake Deli.
“Middlesbrough College has also helped
students to secure work experience
with their food heroes, including the
internationally-renowned Raymond Blanc and
Angela Hartnett.
”
Chilli Cake Deli owner James Stoker
describes the café as “a world away from
your usual, branded high street coffee or
sandwich shop”
.
The business employs 12 people across
two sites and is about to open a new venture
in Hartlepool.
James is now looking to recruit an
apprentice for the new outlet.
He said: “We’re all foodies who love good,
honest, healthy cooking, and we know our
customers appreciate what we do.
“Shaun has proved himself a fantastic
addition to the team – he’s a skilled cook and
his love of food together with his enthusiasm
and dedication mean he fits in perfectly.
”
Shaun, from Priestfields in the town, had
several other jobs, including being a carpet
fitter, before deciding his future lay in food.
He said: “I’ve always loved cooking since
doing it at school but since then I’ve tried lots
of different jobs.
“I kind of fell out of love with cooking for a
time but when the opportunity came along to
train properly I jumped at the chance and I’m
so glad I did.
“The skills and professional standards I
was taught at Middlesbrough College were
spot on, I couldn’t have asked for more.
“The team at Chilli Cake Deli have also
been amazing and I couldn’t wish to be
working with a better group of people.
”
Another apprentice at the Baker Street
café is Middlesbrough College student Jodi
Leigh.
The 19-year-old is also studying
Professional Cookery and is keen to develop
Chilli Cake Deli’s new range of cold pressed
juices and event and business catering
opport [