Catering Courses

This programme is aimed at 16-18-year-olds who have a keen interest in learning basic cookery skills with an aspiration to start a career working in the Catering industry.

The Level 1 Introduction to Professional Cookery course is designed to provide you with all the necessary skills required to prepare you for Level 2 study or employment in the catering and hospitality sector. Students who achieve this qualification could look forward to a future career as a professional chef.

You will gain the knowledge, skills and behaviour needed to work in a professional kitchen. You will focus on practical food preparation and cooking, as well as workplace essentials, such as, food safety and kitchen management. The course is made up of eleven mandatory units:

1. Food safety in catering
2. Introduction to employability in the catering and hospitality industry
3. Health and safety awareness for catering and hospitality
4. Introduction to healthier foods and special diets
5. Introduction to kitchen equipment
6. Prepare and cook food by boiling, poaching and steaming
7. Prepare and cook food by stewing and braising
8. Prepare and cook food by baking, roasting and grilling
9. Prepare and cook food by deep frying and shallow frying
10. Regeneration of pre-prepared food
11. Cold food preparation

This is a 1-year course and is delivered on our Buxton campus, in our state-of-the-art and fully equipped kitchens where you will have access to all the equipment you need to explore your talent.

You will learn through a combination of theory-based sessions in the classroom and live briefs/ practical workshops in our kitchens. At the end of the programme, you will be able to show your competence in a broad range of professional cookery skills and demonstrate responsibility for your work and an ability to work independently.

Your progress will be fully supported and tracked by our highly experienced tutors who have worked as industry professionals themselves. You will benefit from their vast experience in their area of expertise and their understanding of the industry. In addition, you will have the opportunity to participate in work experience with local employers across Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

At BLC we offer an enhanced student experience with the opportunity to take part in educational trips, enrichment activities and visits from guest speakers who provide workshops and offer invaluable advice on the catering industry.

Level 1 Diploma in Introduction to Professional Cookery

You could progress on to;

• the Level 2 Diploma in Professional Cookery,
• or employment in the hospitality and catering industry.

You will be assessed on an ongoing basis and in a variety of ways, including observation, assignments, practical tests and written tests.

There is also a final assessment at the end of your course where your knowledge skills and behaviours will all be tested through your planning, preparation, production and presentation of a set menu.

Grade 1 or above at GCSE in English and maths.

This programme is aimed at adult learners and those already working in industry at junior level who wish to further their career in the catering industry.

This level will suit you if you’ve worked in a professional kitchen for some time, or have a Level 2 qualification. Your work might involve supervising others. You want to develop your skills further, perhaps to become a specialist chef or move into a management role.

This level will suit you if you’ve worked in a professional kitchen for some time, or have a Level 2 qualification. Your work might involve supervising others. You want to develop your skills further, perhaps to become a specialist chef or move into a management role.

The course comprises of mandatory and optional units that are continually assessed via observed work, oral questions, online tests and assignments. On completion of the programme you will need to show competence in a broad range of advanced cookery skills, be able to demonstrate considerable responsibility for your work and have the ability to work independently and supervise others.

You will be taught by friendly, helpful and experienced tutors. You’ll have opportunities to enter national competitions and attend key industry events and be able to study many other qualifications afterwards.

On completion of the programme you will need to show competence in a broad range of basic Cookery and supervisory skills, be able to demonstrate considerable responsibility for your work and have the ability to work independently.

You will study practical skills and theory with us and working within our on-site kitchens and be taught by helpful and enthusiastic staff, who have a wide range of experience in this industry.

This programme uses a wide range of learning activities designed to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for future career success.

This will be through practical activity within our professional kitchens with knowledge and theory embedded throughout. Practical skills will be demonstrated to you be our highly skilled tutors and you will be supported through food preparation technique’s to develop and build on these skills using professional kitchen equipment.

Your learning will be supported by guest speakers, and trips and your learning journey will be fully supported by a personal tutor who will be able to support and track your individual progress.

L3 NVQ Diploma in Professional Cookery

These qualifications are ideal if you have a supervisory role in a kitchen – perhaps as a chef de partie or demi chef – and are aiming for a promotion.

If you take the Patisserie and Confectionery specialism, you might aim to become a pastry chef in your own section of the kitchen.

Your progress and achievements will be continuously assessed in a variety of ways, including observation, assignments and practical and written tests. You’ll also need to do extra study and homework to get the most out of this course

Level 2 Cookery qualification. Relevant industry experience and qualifications will be considered.