Vacherin is celebrating the success of its next generation chef talent programme, PLATE, as the first cohort of Capital City College (formerly Westminster Kingsway College) students graduates and prepares to join the Vacherin team in permanent full-time employment this September.
The specialist London catering and hospitality business is also proudly expanding the programme to support Professional Cookery Level 3 Diploma students at New City College Hackney.
Launched in September 2024 in partnership with Capital City College and Vacherin’s Consultant Chef Sabrina Gidda, PLATE (which stands for Performance, Learning and Technical Excellence) marked a new direction for business/college partnerships, elevating the student experience and traditional work placement concept.
Designed to unlock talent and support transition from education into industry, the pioneering programme supports selected students throughout years two and three of the Professional Chef Diploma. It provides broader skills training, mentoring and exposure to the wide range of exciting opportunities hospitality, and particularly contract catering, has to offer. PLATE students are also guaranteed a role with Vacherin on graduation, giving them a goal and a clear pathway from college to employment.
Ella Dawson, Mia Tucker, Aisha Ceesay and Ishaan Atul Kotecha were the first students to complete the two-year programme. They benefitted from additional skills training and learning and development opportunities; mentoring from Vacherin’s Food Director, Alex Rowe, Sabrina Gidda and Vacherin’s experienced chefs; masterclasses and external stages; supplier visits; industry events and culinary competitions; financial support with the cost of learning and additional paid work placement opportunities (outside of the mandated college work placement requirements).
Mia and Aisha join Vacherin as pastry chefs this month, while Ella is set to join the team as a commis chef in September 2027 following the completion of a year-long stage in New York, an amazing opportunity offered by Capital City College. Ishaan is also delaying his start date to take some time out and travel before settling into a full-time role.
The graduates will work at some of Vacherin’s prestigious London sites and benefit from continued mentoring and enrichment activities, plus the many benefits and learning and development opportunities that Vacherin and its parent company, Compass Group UK & Ireland, offer its people.
Alex Rowe said: “We’re so proud of our first cohort of PLATE graduates and the progress they’ve made with us over the past two years. They are incredibly talented and we can’t wait to welcome them as permanent members of the Vacherin team. Our objective when we created PLATE was to support and empower students throughout their learning journey in a way that recognises the person and addresses the barriers to course completion and career progression that can be experienced. This programme celebrates students’ individuality and strengths, exposes them to as much of the industry as possible, unlocks their talent and passion, creates excitement about future opportunities and offers a clear pathway from education to employment. The journey and success of Ishaan, Mia, Aisha and Ella tell us we’ve done just that.
“We’re thrilled that PLATE is growing. Our second Capital City College cohort is in full flow and we’re about to welcome our third this academic year. We’re also excited to be expanding PLATE into New City College this month. We’re incredibly proud to be leading the way in supporting young talent and helping to future proof our industry. Our ambition is to continue to grow the programme and our support of culinary students by collaborating with more college partners.”
Here’s what the graduates themselves have to say about PLATE:
Ella Dawson: “PLATE is an incredible programme that helped me overcome many challenges during culinary school. It provides a space and opportunity for young chefs like me to develop our skills, while having someone to lean on and ask for guidance. During the duration of the programme, we were invited to masterclasses and one-to-one sessions with qualified chefs, which is an opportunity that’s rarely available. PLATE is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I think no young chef should miss out on.”
Mia Tucker: “The PLATE programme has allowed me to transition into the industry smoothly and I am truly honoured to have been chosen to be a part of the first cohort of something so uniquely special. A massive thanks to both Alex and Sabrina for the support they have given. They showed such care in our development, opinions and wellbeing that I feel more secure in my career choice and I’m excited for the future.
“PLATE offers masterclasses that show us different aspects of the industry like fishing, foraging, butchery, bakery crawling and more. We are given support in our CVs and encouraged to ask for help, which is responded to with nothing short of passionate interest in making us succeed.”
Aisha Ceesay: “The support I received from Alex and Sabrina through PLATE is quite honestly one of the main reasons I completed and graduated from my third year. They showed me the value of the programme at a time when I wasn’t sure if this was the right path for me, and they were there every step of the way, supporting my growth and encouraging me to take part in opportunities I otherwise wouldn’t have had the chance to experience.
“From masterclasses and competitions to ingredient-sourcing trips, they helped me expand my horizons and gain experiences that have shaped my development both personally and professionally. They’re still here supporting us as we make the transition into working life, making that step as smooth as possible, and I’m incredibly grateful for everything they’ve done.”
