Employer: The Lost Gardens of Heligan
Course: Skills Bootcamp for Future Chef Managers
The Lost Gardens of Heligan operates multiple catering outlets and hosts numerous events throughout the year. As the second largest tourist attraction in Cornwall, welcoming 350,000 visitors annually, the organisation is continually seeking to enhance the skills and career progression of its kitchen and front-of-house (FOH) team members.
Louise Eade, Head of Hospitality at The Lost Gardens of Heligan, enrolled several staff members on the Skills Bootcamp for Future Chef Managers after learning about the programme through her contacts at Truro and Penwith College. Committed to the continuous development of her team, Louise constantly seeks additional courses to enhance her team’s growth and industry networking, and the Skills Bootcamp was an ideal training programme to meet these objectives.
As a business, The Lost Gardens of Heligan have consistently supported and trained apprentices across various departments, but they had not previously considered such training for their hospitality staff. Recognising a gap in training and career progression for their kitchen team members, Louise identified the bootcamp as an opportunity to address this need.
Team members who began their journeys at Heligan through various courses have significantly benefited from the Skills Bootcamp, experiencing substantial personal and professional growth. This training has enhanced their confidence and performance, enabling them to actively contribute to the ideas and development of hospitality across the site. As a result, the staff have become more professional, developed a better understanding of overall business operations, including staffing and cost management and now feel more confident in their roles. Their improved skills and deeper understanding of their roles have not only advanced their career progression but also aligned with the company’s objectives.
Louise commented: “The Skills Bootcamp programme has yielded substantial benefits for The Lost Gardens of Heligan. Staff members have taken on additional responsibilities, such as creating rotas, costing menus, planning menus, running outlets and sharing innovative ideas. Two supervisors have advanced to assistant roles, aiding with operations and managing weddings/events.”
Louise praised the team at Truro and Penwith College for their helpfulness and substantial support throughout the training which has contributed to the strong relationship between the two organisations. After participating in the College’s training programmes herself, she found it to be of exceptional quality. She remarked: “The team are fantastic and always very helpful. We (Heligan) have a good relationship with the College and I too have experienced the training, which has been fantastic.”
The Skills Bootcamp for Future Chef Managers at Truro and Penwith College has significantly impacted The Lost Gardens of Heligan by enhancing staff skills, confidence, and career progression, ultimately benefiting the overall business operations. The positive relationship and support from Truro and Penwith College have been instrumental in this success.
Louise concluded: “Training the team has been a rewarding experience, leading to the development of the next phase of supervisors and chefs. In a challenging industry environment with a shortage of workers, promoting from within has been a particularly effective strategy.”
The Lost Gardens of Heligan have engaged with several other courses through Truro and Penwith College, including one-to-one Coaching as part of the College’s Bespoke Training Solutions, Apprenticeships, WSET Levels 1 and 3 and other business courses delivered in partnership with Cornwall Hospitality Collective.
For anyone working in the hospitality sector who is interested in developing skills in leadership and management, the Skills Bootcamp offers a chance to do this with a view to progressing into management roles. To find out more about the Skills Bootcamp for Future Chef Managers and to book onto the next course, please visit our Skills Bootcamp collection on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/skills-bootcamps-3422789.
To find out more about the range of Business and Professional Development courses offered by Truro and Penwith College’s Future Skills Institute visit: www.truro-penwith.ac.uk/professional-development