In just 12- months, 20-year-old Shaideen Malcolm has gone from having no self confidence to cooking for customers in a busy restaurant, thanks to a hospitality apprenticeship.
After initially completing a Prince’s Trust Team programme, Shaideen progressed to a GAP programme and then a traineeship, before gaining the apprenticeship at Nutmeg in the city centre.
Shaideen, who combines working in the restaurant with studying for the Level 2 diploma in professional cookery, said: “I thought the only way to be successful was to go to college full-time which I didn’t want to do, so an apprenticeship is a much better way of learning for me.
“I can use what I learn at college – such as knife skills and making cakes and pastries – when I’m in the restaurant and having to work under pressure and talk to customers has really increased my confidence – I can’t afford to be shy!
“I never thought I’d get anywhere but, thanks to the apprenticeship, I can look forward to the future now.”
Shaideen’s employer, Alex Abdel, who runs Nutmeg with his daughter Yasmine, added: “Shaideen is doing extremely well and has really grown in confidence since she’s been here. She runs the kitchen on her own and the customers love her.
“Young people deserve a chance and apprenticeships are a great way for them to gain experience in the workplace.”
