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FACULTY OF Professional Cookery & Hospitality
With fantastic training resources on-site, and partnerships with some of the country’s biggest names in food and hospitality, our Professional Cookery & Hospitality courses will nurture your talent and practical techniques to a professional standard.
Learn in professional surroundings
Our two campus restaurants, Senara and Spires, are well regarded with Senara receiving a certificate of excellence on TripAdvisor and both restaurants receiving an AA rating. These will be your training grounds while studying a Professional Cookery & Hospitality course with us. You’ll gain occupational knowledge of cookery and hospitality in a dynamic working environment, preparing you for a career after college in professional cookery, restaurant management, catering, front of house service and more.
Truro and Penwith College enjoy strong partnerships with renowned chefs such as Paul Ainsworth and Adam Handling, as well as a wide range of prestigious hospitality organisations and businesses across Cornwall. Many of our students have taken advantage of the opportunities offered through their courses to launch successful careers at the very top of the professional catering and hospitality sector.
Get real experience
The hospitality industry is one of the cornerstones of the Cornish economy and you will gain the skills needed for success. You will discover and develop new talents, working as part of a team and experiencing the buzz of our professional kitchens. While at College, you will have a vast array of different employer engagements and work placements with industry experts, where you will be able to put your new-found knowledge and skills to immediate use.
In 2022 and 2024 our Hospitality and professional cookery team, who oversee our training restaurants Senara and Spires, won the AA College Restaurant of the Year award, showcasing them as the best Hospitality providers in the UK.
AA rosette
Work in our AA Rosette awarded professional restaurants. Both campuses have achieved Centre of Excellence status for Fish and Shellfish, Patisserie and Confectionery, and Food and Beverage.
LEADERS
Our students have the opportunity to make connections with some of the UK’s leading food and drink experts. All our courses and levels have meaningful enrichment opportunities to add real value and depth to your learning journey.
Expert
Having highly expert staff with industry experience greatly enriches your experience by providing practical knowledge, networking opportunities and guidance that will prepare you for a successful career in your chosen field.
Academy
The Paul Ainsworth Academy broadens students’ knowledge and skills both in college and through extracurricular activities.
Industry professionals vote College restaurants the best in the UK
Cornwall is now home to the best two college restaurants in the country after scooping double honours at a prestigious national award ceremony.
Senara Restaurant in Penzance was crowned the AA Hospitality Award’s College Restaurant of the Year 2025, with Spires Restaurant in Truro also reaching the national final.
The training restaurants, used by around 250 professional Cookery and Hospitality students at Truro and Penwith College, were two of only three finalists, including The Classroom, a training restaurant at Cardiff and Vale College.
PRACTICAL LEARNING
As either an Apprentice or a Diploma student, you’ll have the opportunity to learn in our realistic, simulated working environments, where you can perfect your skills in a supportive, practical space. Our tutors have extensive industry experience to draw from, teaching you the latest techniques with industry level equipment.
EMPLOYABILITY & APPRENTICESHIPS
At Truro and Penwith College, we are committed to preparing students not just for qualifications, but for meaningful, long-term careers. That’s why employability is embedded into every aspect of our programmes. Working in partnership with a wide range of respected employers across Cornwall, we offer a variety of work placement opportunities to test out your knowledge, skills and behaviours with the aim that they will lead onto an Apprenticeship. Whether you’re interested in Construction, Hospitality, Automotive or Hairdressing, our Apprenticeships provide a direct route into the industry—combining hands-on experience with expert-led training and nationally recognised qualifications.
To ensure you’re ready for the workplace, we also focus on developing your broader employability skills. These include communication, organisation, teamwork, and problem-solving; core attributes that employers across all sectors value highly. You’ll have the opportunity to enhance these through real-world projects and collaborative learning.
By working closely with industry partners, we ensure our training reflects current sector needs, giving you the edge in a competitive job market and helping you make a strong, immediate impact in your chosen field.
Our courses offer the students so much more than learning to cook. The breadth of the course allows them to gain confidence in the kitchen and front of house and improves teamwork and leadership skills.
Dave Izzard
Head of Faculty
College was great! I found the course to be versatile; it allowed me to learn and practice essential skills whilst working too. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. If you’re hard-working and dedicated, you have the tools to succeed.
Harrison
Level 2 Commis Chef Apprenticeship
FIND THE COURSE FOR YOU
Frequently Asked Questions
To apply for a professional cookery and hospitality course at Truro and Penwith College, visit the course page on our official college website and complete your application online.
Entry requirements for professional cookery and hospitality programs vary. Check the specific course details on the college website or prospectus or contact the admissions office for the most accurate and up-to-date information on entry requirements.
Yes, while at College, you will have a vast array of different employer engagements and work placements with industry experts. You will learn from a wide variety of visiting speakers and demonstrators including Michelin starred chefs and masters in food and beverage. The Rick Stein and Paul Ainsworth Academies broaden student’s knowledge and skills both in college and through extracurricular activities.
You will discover and develop new talents in our AA Rosette awarded professional restaurants, Spires and Senara. Both campuses have achieved Centre of Excellence status for Fish and Shellfish, Patisserie and Confectionery and Food and Beverage.
We strongly recommend making an application for your chosen course as soon as you can when you are in your final year of school. After you have submitted your application, you will be invited to attend an interview where you can make amendments to your application if need be.
Yes, prospective students can speak to the professional cookery and hospitality department at an open event which are free to attend and take place throughout the year. Visit truro-penwith.ac.uk/events to see the latest event details. Alternatively, you can contact the academic advisors in the media and photography department at Truro and Penwith College. Check the college website for contact details or reach out to the admissions office, and they will guide you on how to connect with the relevant academic advisors for more information.