Applications open for UCB's prestigious Royal Academy of Culinary Arts Chef Apprenticeship

Recruitment has begun for a unique opportunity to work and train at some of the finest restaurants and hotels in the region.

UCB is the only institution outside London and the South to offer the esteemed Royal Academy of Culinary Arts (RACA) Chef Apprenticeship, and it is now inviting applications for the course, which starts in September.

Current apprentices are working at renowned Michelin-starred establishments, including Simpsons in Edgbaston, The Cross at Kenilworth in Warwickshire, and celebrity chef Glynn Purnell’s restaurant, Purnell’s, located in the heart of Birmingham city centre.

UCB student Katie Cooper, aged 16 from Northamptonshire, is an example of how the RACA apprenticeship can open doors to an exciting career. She is a finalist in the Springboard FutureChef competition to find the nation’s best young chef, which attracts around 8,000 entrants annually. She puts her success down to the training she has received from UCB’s highly experienced Chef Lecturers. She said: “There is nowhere else like UCB in terms of facilities and lecturers.” 

The three-year apprenticeship is aimed at young chefs, aged between 16 and 19, who have the passion, drive and determination to succeed at the highest level.

New recruits undergo an intensive culinary traineeship before they start paid employment in industry, under the guidance of senior chefs.

During the apprenticeship, young chefs attend UCB each week for a day of formal training, practical work, culinary theory and assessments. The curriculum is cutting-edge and combines culinary traditions with modern developments and an internationally-informed body of knowledge.

Apprentices also benefit from an unrivalled enrichment programme including demonstrations by leading chefs, “stages” at top restaurants and field trips to food producers.

All trainees receive industry respected qualifications and sit the RACA final exam on completion of the curriculum. If successful, chefs are awarded the coveted Royal Academy of Culinary Arts Diploma and become a Graduate of the RACA.

UCB was handpicked to deliver the “gold standard” apprenticeship due to its expertise and industry reputation. Neil Rippington, Dean of the College of Food at UCB, said the apprenticeship offered the perfect blend of practical experience, skills-based learning and theoretical tuition. He added: “This course is a wonderful opportunity for school leavers who have a passion for food and a desire to work with some of the best chefs in the region.

“The culinary scene in Birmingham goes from strength to strength, and it is right that UCB continues to be at the forefront of training the next generation of industry leaders with this specialised chef course.”

The RACA, founded in 1980, is widely recognised as the UK’s leading professional association of head chefs, pastry chefs, restaurant managers and suppliers. The education and training of young people in the hospitality industry is one of the main objectives of the organisation, whose patron is HRH The Prince of Wales.

Apply now for this apprenticeship by completing our online application form – or come to our open evening on Monday 9 July, 6-8pm, Summer Row.