Posted: 21/06/10
Students welcome top chefs for VQ Day challenge
Professional cookery students at West Nottinghamshire College are taking part in a Ready, Steady, Cook-style skills challenge with chefs from two of Mansfield’s top restaurants to celebrate ‘VQ Day’ (Vocational Qualifications) this month.
In celebration of the nation’s third VQ Day on Wednesday 23 June, students from the college’s No 19 Brasserie will put their vocational skills to the test in a 60-minute cookery contest, when they’ll be provided with a bag of ingredients and challenged to produce two mouth-watering courses.
The two chefs invited to judge the contest are Troy Lamb, head chef and joint owner of Lambs at the Market restaurant on Nottingham Road, and Michael Sindall, owner of Number 4 Wood Street. Both are ex-catering students at the college.
Troy and Michael will be assessing the two teams of three students throughout the challenge on hygiene, preparation, presentation plus taste and originality of the final dishes.
VQ Day is a national celebration of vocational qualifications for students, teachers and employers. Last year 3.6 million vocational qualifications were awarded and millions of people will achieve similar success this year.
Last academic year (2008/09) 14,203 students successfully gained vocational qualifications at the college, which boasts a 94% achievement rate.
Principal and chief executive Asha Khemka OBE said: “We’re proud to have a very high achievement rate with our vocational qualifications, which reflects how well learners are engaging with this type of study.
“Vocational qualifications equip students with relevant skills for the workplace and provide a great start towards embarking on rewarding careers across a range of industries.
“Our professional catering students are no strangers to providing high quality dishes for the brasserie’s many diners so I know they’ll perform well under pressure during this exciting vocational skills challenge which will put their skills to the test.”
The students taking part are level two learners Scott Place and Emma Davis and level three students Lewis Bradley, Kayleigh Atkin, Josh Adams and Amy Metcalfe.
