Catering student is flying high

A student on the College's Culinary Arts Management degree programme has been taking part in a year-long placement with the RAF, landing a two-year bursary and guaranteed job at the end of his course as a result.

Michael Forsyth, aged 20, is currently on the Royal Air Force Catering Undergraduate Placement Scheme (RAF CUPS) and will be returning to College this September for the third year of his degree programme.

He is the first catering student to be awarded a bursary after completing the programme, as there is always a lot of competition for those funds from students in other parts of the force.

On placement, he had various opportunities to see the different catering systems used by the RAF. For one week, he assisted in the production of over 6,000 hot meals each day from a tented kitchen, then spent the next week helping with the management of the RAF Culinary Arts Team for the annual tri-service catering competition.

He also travelled to the Falkland Islands, where he completed capability checks, took part in major military exercises as part of the mobile catering support unit, learned new culinary skills and put his management and leadership training into practice.

Once Michael decided to complete his placement with the RAF, he found further information on the scheme through the College’s industrial placement department. After Michael secured the position, staff at the College ensured the programme was suitable for his degree course.

He said: "Over the year I have seen and taken part in such a variety of different catering-related activities it's hard to believe I could fit so much into one year. It has been an excellent chance to see inside the RAF, and the year has been totally modelled to what I have wanted to see and do."

As well as catering, Michael also undertook Basic Winter Training and spent a week alpine skiing, learning the basics of winter survival.

The Bursary was awarded to Michael by Group Captain Bessant, head of RAF Catering specialisation, at the annual Catering Skills and Awards Day, held at RAF Halton.

As part of the bursary he has secured a place at RAF College Cranwell, the prestigious Officer Training College for the RAF, and during the remaining two years of his degree he will have membership of the Birmingham University Air Squadron which provides opportunities to complete adventure training and learn to fly.

For more information about the RAF CUPS and the Catering Bursary visit www.raf.mod.uk/careers.