November 2013
YouTube Star Joe Sugg Backs UCB at Skills Show
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YouTube star Joe Sugg joined UCB students in fun cookery and make-up demonstrations at the Skills Show 2013 at the NEC.
Joe, who has more than one million YouTube subscribers and 410,000 Twitter followers, was mobbed by excited fans at the UCB stands.
His star turn was one of the highlights of UCB’s three-day participation at the show, which is the largest skills and careers event in the UK.
The university’s theatrical and media make-up Level 3 students were rushed off their feet at “have a go” sessions, showcasing their talents in recreating visually stunning wounds, bruises – and even severed fingers.
There were big queues at the make-up stand throughout the show and visitors also enjoyed getting their faces painted for Children in Need. Some lucky students also managed to get one of the tasty Pudsey bear cupcakes specially baked for the show.
In The Skillet restaurant, UCB trainee chefs worked alongside star chefs to create a fine dining experience for special guests. A different chef filled the role of head chef for each of the three days, leading a team of students on the Level 3 diploma in advanced professional cookery. UCB students also worked as front-of-house staff.
TV celebrity chef Glynn Purnell, Adam Bennett, of The Cross at Kenilworth, and Aktar Islam, of Lasan in Birmingham, turned out amazing three-course lunches ably assisted by UCB’s young kitchen stars.
Glynn, who has two restaurants – the Michelin-starred Purnell’s and Purnell’s Bistro – said it was important for young people to understand the importance of learning their craft and having the right work ethic.
You have to be good at your job. You need to learn the skills for cooking. An electrician has to do three years training to get their skills and cooking is no different. It is important for the industry for chefs to take part in events like this and I am delighted to help the new generation of chefs at UCB.
The UCB Showcase Kitchen was a hive of activity throughout the show, hosting a series of demonstrations. One of the sessions was led by Ashley Gibbs and Scott Stockton, both apprentices from UCB who work for Hilton. Ashley and Scott showed young people how to cook sea bass and chocolate fondants – and gave appreciative spectators a taste of their work.