BHCC - Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce

At a celebration of its 450th anniversary on Monday 28th September, The Barceló Brighton Old Ship Hotel, Brighton’s oldest hotel, launched the Barceló Apprentice Chef Academy (BACA) a new scheme to train and attract the most talented young chefs in the UK.  During the event, where special guests included Margaret Hodge MP, The Minister for Culture and Tourism and Mayor of Brighton & Hove Councillor Ann Norman, Barceló Hotels called upon the town’s finest apprentices to join its team and benefit from this new initiative.

Simon Pedro Barceló Co-President of Barceló Hotels & Resorts, flew over from Spain especially to launch BACA which Barceló Hotels sees as an important scheme supporting the government’s existing programme to encourage more young people to take up jobs in the UK hospitality industry. The BACA scheme focuses on school leavers who want to pursue a career as a chef but haven’t yet had the chance.

Signor Pedro Barceló said: “We need more good UK chefs within the hospitality industry and at Barceló we are inviting aspiring chefs from Brighton and all over the UK to apply for our Chef’s Academy in a bid to help create and sustain more jobs in hospitality and, of course to meet our own growing requirements.” 

Tourism Minister Margaret Hodge said:  “A skilled, professional workforce is vital to providing a first class service and means more successful and more profitable businesses. Projects like Barceló’s Apprentice Chef Academy will help to create opportunities for young people in the hospitality industry, giving them a job and a career, as well as supporting our successful businesses and improving the offer to customers.”

The Barceló’s B.A.C.A programme will allow Apprentice Chefs to complete a full timetable of training giving them the chance to study an NVQ Level 2 qualification in Food Production which on its successful completion will provide the option of commencing a Level 3 qualification. The programme also includes a series of special ‘supplier workshops’ culminating with a graduation and a Barceló Apprentice Chef of the Year competition.

Pictured left to right: Charles Prew, CEO Barceló UK, Raúl González, CEO EMEA, Barceló Group, Sonya Young, new General Manager of Barceló Brighton Old Ship, Simon Pedro Barceló, Co-President of Barceló Group