Sophie White, Apprentice Chef, Chartwells

Following a change in career and indulging in my passion for everything food related, I applied for the Compass UK & Ireland Group Apprenticeship Programme and was thrilled to be accepted. The opportunity to ‘earn and learn’ at the same time was just too good to be true.

I’ve benefitted by having an amazing mentor and feel lucky to be working alongside such a passionate and dedicated team. Compass is an organisation which offers opportunities for self-development and personal growth if you’re hungry for that next step and it’s great to be able to challenge myself on a daily basis.

I’ve received first hand, expert skills, knowledge and guidance – there’s always something new to learn or practice to further develop my skills and help improve productivity.

It’s not just about the qualification, although that’s a big bonus - it’s as much about the personal triumph for me and winning Compass Apprentice Chef of the Year just added to this. My confidence has soared as a result of adapting and reacting daily to different situations and challenges in a busy kitchen, plus I now have the confidence to try something new and that’s something I didn’t have before.

My advice for anyone thinking about doing an apprenticeship is ‘go for it’, what do you have to lose? If my story in particular encourages more women into our amazing industry, as well as encouraging and supporting career progression pathways for our female chefs, then that really would be the icing on the cake!