Barchester Chef Trainer shortlisted in Hospitality Guild Apprenticeship Awards

Brian Lane, Chef Trainer at Barchester Healthcare, is one of the finalists in the ‘Apprenticeship Mentor of the Year’ – one of the six categories in the Hospitality Guild Apprenticeship Awards 2013.

Brian Lane heads up Barchester’s in-house Chef Academy. Brian has a vast range of experience including working on super yachts in the South of France for famous names, stints at the Fat Duck and Le Manoir, and also in training others. He has a passion for food which is matched with his passion for developing the skills of Barchester’s care home chefs.

The awards, which are held in partnership with People 1st, recognise and celebrate the achievements of apprentices working in hospitality and emphasise the vital role employers, providers and mentors play in apprenticeship delivery.

Sophie Roberts Brown, Operations Director of the Hospitality Guild, said that there was stiff competition for the awards, with more than 100 nominations received in total.

“The nominations we received this year highlighted the impressive skills apprentices in our industry have, and the way in which their employers, mentors and training providers support them. The quality is just amazing.

“With so many inspiring examples of outstanding talent and support, we’re going to face a number of tough decisions when it comes to choosing our winners to be announced in December.”

Paul Middleton, Head of Vocational Qualifications at Barchester, said: “Brian inspires the apprentice chefs that are trained through Barchester’s Chef Academy and has bags of talent and skill to share. He has a wealth of experience working in first-class kitchens and is only too happy to help nurture talent in the care industry - an area that can often be overlooked when people think of high-quality cuisine.”

The other shortlisted nominees in for the ‘Apprenticeship Mentor of the Year’ category are: Allister Bishop, Executive Sous Chef, Harrods, and Linda Hall, Food and Beverage Supervisor, Hilton Warwick.

This year’s winners will be announced at a ceremony held at the Tower of London on 3 December, with guests including industry leaders and celebrity chefs.