Course Summary

The Professional Culinary Certificate aims to train you in the fundamentals of cookery providing a platform for a career cooking professionally.

Over 6 weeks, this structured course will give you expert training from our experienced chef tutors in modern cookery techniques. This course incorporates a Level 2 Award in Culinary Skills accredited by the Confederation of Tourism & Hospitality.

The aim of this qualification is to:

• provide an introduction to the core skills required in a professional kitchen;
• improve the skills of individuals and increase their chances of gaining employment;
• to support the skills required within the catering industry.

Graduates of this course can expect to be considered seriously for junior chef positions in the catering industry, or to have developed the skills and confidence to start their own enterprise.

This is an intensive course designed to deliver as much practical cookery training as possible with around 35 hours a week training at the Academy, and you will be expected to undertake some project work outside of the classroom.

You will be assessed throughout the course on your ability to prepare, cook and serve a variety of dishes demonstrating the skills learnt.

Who is this course suitable for?

Typical ambitions of students that come on the Professional Cookery Certificate course include:

• launching a career in catering as a chef;
• opening a bistro or restaurant;
• working as a chalet or yacht chef;
• launching a corporate/outdoor catering business;
• personal cookery skill development.

The Qualifications

In addition to training of the highest standard, you will also graduate with the following certificates:

Course Dates

The course is scheduled on the following dates:

2013 Dates	2014 Dates
Mon 01 Jul to Fri 09 Aug, 2013 (3 Places Left)	Mon 13 Jan to Fri 21 Feb, 2014
Mon 09 Sep to Fri 18 Oct, 2013	More dates to be annouced soon.

To reserve your place, call us on 01364 652784 or click here to request an enrolment form.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why should choose the Ashburton Chefs Academy?
2. How old do I have to be to attend a course?
3. What type of people take this course?
4. Professional and Career Development Loans
5. Do you accept International Students?
6. Do I need to have any cookery experience to take the Professional Culinary Certificate?
7. Can I graduate from the Certificate and count that towards the Diploma?
8. I'm a mature student. Will I feel out of place on this course?
9. Is travel insurance included in the course fees?
10. What happens if I change my mind about the course after enrolling? What is your cancellation policy?
11. Do I need a chef uniform or chef equipment?
12. What are the career prospects for Professional Culinary Certificate graduates?
13. How good a chef will I be at the end of the course?
14. What are your food sourcing policies at the Academy?
15. Why should I chose you over other Culinary Schools?
16. How can you take 6 months to achieve the same qualifications that take 9 months elsewhere?
17. I'm not from Devon, where will I stay?
18. I want to enrol. What are the next steps?

Why should I chose the Ashburton Chefs Academy?

There are as many different approaches to teaching cookery as there are different cooking styles. When learning to cook to a professional level however you need to be confident that your learning provider is able to provide consistent, industry relevant training to the highest standard.

As a private culinary school we develop our own courses to meet a standard of excellence that is not available elsewhere. As an Ashburton Chefs Academy student you will:-

• receive award-winning, inspirational tuition from world-class, professional chef tutors.
• work with the finest local, organic, seasonal produce available.
• enjoy working in new, well-equipped kitchens, dining areas, theory rooms and break out spaces.
• learn both classic and modern cookery skills that are relevant to todays industry.
• benefit from small class-sizes and individual attention from tutors.
• learn to become an inspirational chef.

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How old do I have to be to attend a course?

The minimum age to join this course is 18 years old.

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What type of people take this course?

There will be a broad range of people from different backgrounds and different life experiences on our courses with ages ranging from 18 to 55. The typical gender split is 60% male to 40% female.

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Professional and Career Development Loans

Professional and Career Development Loans of up to £10,000 are available for this course.

Please visit our page about Career Development Loans for details.

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Do you accept International Students?

Yes, we can accept students from any country on the following courses:

• 4 week Advanced Certificate of Cookery
• 6 week Professional Culinary Certificate
• 20 week Professional Culinary Diploma

Please visit our page for International Students for full details.

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Do I need to have any cookery experience to take the Professional Culinary Certificate?

Whilst you do not need any professional cookery experience, you should be able to demonstrate a passion for cookery and so we would expect you to be familiar with common kitchen equipment, and basic cookery concepts, such as frying, grilling, baking etc as well as the ability to follow a recipe. Absolute beginners would be expected to take the Foundation cookery course at the Ashburton Cookery School to reach the entry level standard for the Professional Culinary Certificate.

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Can I graduate from the Certificate and count that towards the Diploma?

No. Both courses are standalone and designed to achieve a specific qualification and skillset in the set time. If you were to complete the Certificate you would be able to take the Diploma at a later date for a different qualification, but you would not be able to skip any of the Diploma content since this course requires full attendence to achieve the CTH level 4 qualification.

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I'm a mature student. Will I feel out of place on this course?

Not at all. This is a common question we get from mature students who are considering retraining in a new career and are concerned that they are going to feel like they are going back to school. Our courses are not like those offered by a traditional catering college - both in the style of training we offer and the environment you will learn in. The broad range of ages and backgrounds of students at the Ashburton Chefs Academy will mean you feel very much at home.

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Is travel insurance included in the course fee this course?

Travel insurance is NOT included in the course fees. You will need to take out your own travel insurance policy to insure you against sickness or accident of yourself or a close relative, that would prevent you taking or completing the course. You will need to show us your insurance policy prior to taking the course.

To visit our recommended insurer with insurance policies from £62 for 9 weeks cover click here.

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What happens if I change my mind about the course after enrolling? What is your cancellation policy?

You should be committed to complete the course prior to enrolling, and our interview process is designed to assess your commitment and suitability for the course. Demand is high for places on this course and whilst rare, non-participation can deprive other potential students of a place. We will always aim to be as flexible as possible and work with you to help find the best solution to any challenges you might face.

Cancellation policy in a nutshell.

• To secure your place on the course requires a non-refundable deposit of 10% to 15% (see course fees).
• The balance of payments of course fees are due 6 weeks before the start of the course. (This date is called the Enrolment Threshold)
• Should you wish to cancel your place before the Enrolment Threshold we will refund all course fees minus the deposit. If you wish to defer your booking to a future course (and we are able to sell your existing booking), we may also agree to transfer your deposit to the future course date.
• After the Enrolment Threshold you will have paid the remainder of your course fees. You will also be insured under our insurance policy against sickness or injury to yourself or an immediate relative that prevents you taking the course. In cases of cancellation due to an insurable issue, you would initiate an insurance claim to try and recover the lost fees.
• If you wish to cancel the course booking for a non-insurable reason after the Enrolment Threshold, such as "change of circumstance" or "change of mind", we will attempt to resell your place for you. If we are able to resell your place, you may request a full refund of course fees (minus the deposit) or transfer your fees (and deposit) to a future course date. If, despite best efforts, we are unable to resell your place, you would lose the full cost of your booking.

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What are the career prospects for Professional Culinary Certificate graduates?

As a graduate you can expect to be considered seriously for entry level chef positions in good quality restaurants. Your training at the Chefs Academy is aimed at preparing you for a junior chef position, but of course this is dependant on your own ambitions and the opportunities that come your way.

The Academy will be able to support you in your search for employment with references and introduce you to the vacancies offered by partner companies at hotels, restaurants, chalet and yacht crew agencies.

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How good a chef will I be at the end of the course?

Confidence and self-belief come from mastering the fundamentals of cooking. No qualification can replace years of experience in a commercial kitchen, but we will prepare you to be a skilled chef with a good technical ability, a professional approach, good presentation skills and the confidence to be able to cope in a pressured and commercial environment, be that a restaurant or cooking for a private function. Graduates from the Chefs Academy have been eagerly snapped up by top employers who are keen to recruit well trained individuals.

We aim to prepare you for the realities of an industry that demands long hours and dedication, but equally can be as rewarding as any career. Our chefs have a wealth of industry experience and will be able to provide advice for your chosen career path.

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What are your food sourcing policies at the Academy?

We are blessed with some of Europe's finest food producer's in Devon and Cornwall, and all the food we source is from high quality local, food suppliers. It is our policy to reduce food miles, to source seasonal organic ingredients at every opportunity, and to only use sustainable food stocks. We audit the provenance of all of the produce we use. Your training and your food will benefit substantially from our approach which is in contrast to many other institutions.

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I want to enrol. What are the next steps?

If you are ready to take the next step to joining the Chefs Academy, you can either call us on 01364 652784(Int. +44 1364 652784) and we can process your application over the phone. Or complete our online enrolment form here and we will contact you to complete your booking.

Please note that places can only be secured on the course with a non-refundable deposit, so as soon as you are sure that you wish to enrol, please contact us as soon as you can since places are in high demand.

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Fees

	Course Only	Course with Accommodation Options
	Mon to Fri 9.00am to 4pm	Ashburton Court B&B 5 nights/week (Sun - Thurs)	Ashburton Court B&B 7 nights/week
2012/13 Professional Culinary Certificate*	£4,950	£6,450 (Standard Room)	£6,950 (Standard Room)
		Click here for details of the Accommodation options
Non-refundable deposit required to secure place:	10%	15%	15%
Full amount payable:	6 weeks prior to start of course. Note: Payments made by credit card will incur a 1.3% bank processing fee. Debit card, cheque or bank transfer incur no fee.

Course Fee includes:

• Course Notes
• Equipment & Ingredients
• Transport from Ashburton Court
• Lunch
• Chef Jackets x 2, Chef Trousers x 2, Chef Cap x 1
• External Exam Fees & Course Books for CIEH, CTH

Residential

Choose to stay with us in our own B&B accommodation at Ashburton Court. You can be sure of a warm welcome and a comfortable stay.

Ashburton Court

Ashburton Court is the B&B accomodation owned and run by the Ashburton Cookery School for its students. Located in the heart of Ashburton in two grade II listed Georgian town-houses, this accommodation provides attractive and comfortable rooms, with daily cleaning service.

All rooms are bright and well maintained with ensuite bathroom and shower, tea and coffee making facilities, and tv. A continental breakfast featuring the best local produce is provided daily. A complimentary minibus runs between Ashburton Court and the Chefs Academy, which is less than a 15 minute walk away.

For more information on Ashburton Court, please click here.

Click here for Residential Course Fees.

The Heart of Devon

Newton Abbot train station is just 10 minutes by car. You are also perfectly positioned to take advantage of all that Devon has to offer, with Dartmoor National Park and the East Devon coastline just 15 minutes by car.

A little further away you will find the Cities of Exeter and Plymouth which provide plenty in the way of shopping, services and entertainment. And of course, the Cornish border is only 1 hour away.

Devon is one of Europe's finest food regions, and you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to food producers, farmer's markets, fine restaurants and some of the UK's best pubs.

Explore More

• Visit Devon
• Discover Dartmoor
• Ashburton Town Website
• The Trencherman's Guide to South West Restaurants
• Food & Drink Devon
• Hannahs at Seale-Hayne
• Devon Pubs
• Exeter - Heart of Devon
  

Prospectus

If you would like to download a pdf prospectus please click here.

If you would like us to send you a prospectus in the post, please contact us here.

Enrolment

To enrol for the Professional Culinary Certificate simply call us on 01364 652784 to speak to a student advisor. There is no interview required to take this course, simply secure your place with a deposit.