Ferdi’s Story

 “Seeing what food can do to people and how happy it makes them feel, I think that’s the main part.”

Former School: Humphry Davy School

Course: Level 2 in Food, Beverage and Professional Cookery

When Ferdi first stepped into a restaurant kitchen at 15, he couldn’t have imagined where it would lead him. Starting out as a kitchen porter in a busy restaurant in Marazion, he spent hours washing up and helping behind the scenes. But while the work was demanding, it sparked something much bigger.

“Watching the chefs cook, I wanted to do that for myself because I found a really big interest in catering.”

That passion eventually brought him to Penwith College, where he is now studying Professional Cookery alongside Front of House Skills at Senara, the College’s award-winning training restaurant.

Senara was named AA College Restaurant of the Year in 2025 and has built a reputation for delivering exceptional hospitality experiences. For Ferdi, being part of that success is a source of immense pride. “Seeing that we can achieve what we have, and people noticing how well we’re doing and getting the awards for it, is just an amazing feeling.”

Working in a real restaurant environment has allowed him to experience the realities of the hospitality industry while developing industry-standard skills. “The facilities that we’ve got here can really bring out all the good sides in you.” While mastering culinary techniques is a key part of the course, Ferdi believes the biggest lessons go far beyond the kitchen. “It teaches you not only how to cook, but it gives you life lessons.”

Working with customers and alongside hospitality professionals has helped him become more confident and develop valuable communication skills. “You could be a really shy person to start, but you learn to talk to people and that obviously helps you later in life.”

He has also seen the impact hospitality can have on people’s lives. “Seeing what food can do to people and how happy it makes them feel, I think that’s the main part.”

Alongside regular restaurant service, Ferdi has benefited from opportunities that bring the industry to life. Recent experiences have included visits to food festivals, specialist coffee training with Origin Coffee and working alongside renowned chefs during industry takeovers at Senara. “Getting that experience from a very, very big company is just unreal.” These opportunities have given him insight into different areas of the hospitality sector and helped him build the confidence needed for a future career.

After completing his studies, Ferdi plans to continue developing his skills before embarking on an exciting new challenge. “I’ve been up money since I was 15 and I’m going to go travelling around the world.” His goal is to experience different cuisines and cultures before bringing those influences back to Cornwall. “I want to get loads of experience and bring all of the cuisines from all of the places that I’ve been.” Long-term ambitions include opening his own food business and potentially working in luxury hospitality. “Maybe open a food truck.”

For Ferdi, the wide range of opportunities available at Penwith College has been one of the biggest benefits of studying here. “Penwith College brings out the best in you. The amount of opportunities here really gives you the chance to show what you want to do and what you love…I think it’s just amazing.”

Find out more about our Professional Cookery & Hospitality courses here: Professional Cookery & Hospitality – Truro & Penwith College