Cameron House Hotel unveils support for ‘Apprenticeships Work’ initiative

Luxury five-star resort Cameron House Hotel is showing its support for Scottish Apprenticeship Week’s ‘Apprenticeships Work’ initiative, having already recruited five new apprentices since the resort reopened last September.

Jodie Cochrane, 18 from Glasgow, joined the food and beverage team in July 2021 as part of the hotel’s new Chef Apprenticeship Programme, for example.

Before joining Clan Cameron, the chef was crowned ‘Springboard Future Chef’ in 2020, a nationwide cookery contest with over 15,000 entries, having been mentored through the process by Cameron House’s executive chef Zoltan Szabo. 

After the Springboard competition, Cochrane and Szabo stayed in touch and he encouraged her to pursue the apprenticeship to learn the skills of the trade.

Since July, she has worked across a variety of departments, and by December she was promoted to commis chef and placed her first dish on the Cameron Grill menu for guests: a blood orange crémeux. 

Cameron House’s chef apprenticeship programme launched in January 2020 and provides paid training for those interested in pursuing a career in food service. Over 18-months, up to eight young chefs gain experience in the resort’s busy kitchens including The Boat House, The Café Spa and The Clubhouse, developing their skills in food preparation, food service, and health and safety. 

Szabo said: “Jodie was an absolute joy to mentor during the Springboard Future Chef competition. She is an energetic young talent and her dedication shone through throughout the process, so it is extremely rewarding to have her as part of my team now.

“Supporting young talent through initiatives such as Cameron House’s apprenticeship scheme is so important as it could unlock the door for a future expert or leader in the sector. Anyone considering a career in hospitality should be encouraged to explore what a rewarding career it can be.” 

Cochrane added: “I remember receiving my apprenticeship confirmation letter while still at school, with my teachers who taught the hospitality class, and we were all screaming. It was a great feeling.

“Joining the team at Cameron House has given me a great insight into the way a big resort works; it’s fast-paced and demanding, but every day ends with you feeling very proud of what you’ve accomplished. I’m grateful to Zoltan and the team for the opportunities.”

Jennifer Jurgensen, director of Human Resources at Cameron House, added: “It is a pleasure for us to offer opportunities for budding professionals at Cameron House, where new starts learn from an award-winning team at one of Scotland’s most iconic resorts. Following a particularly challenging time for young people in employment, due to the impacts of Covid-19, we’re delighted to promote success stories such as Jodie’s, shining a light on the importance of apprenticeship schemes.”