Talented chefs at Loughborough College have become the first in the UK to be awarded special accreditation for their high quality and standards.
The College’s Radmoor Restaurant team successfully passed all the standards required to receive accreditation from The Craft Guild of Chefs College and University Accreditation scheme.
The scheme was launched in July 2020 and to achieve the accreditation, College lecturers and students were interviewed and skills training sessions were observed to ensure they met the high standards required by the Craft Guild of Chefs.
Accreditation means Loughborough College can tap into the Guild’s expertise and network of chefs to boost the quality of learning.
Darren Creed, the college’s interim Hospitality and Travel Curriculum Manager & chef lecturer, said: “I can’t tell you how proud I am of the team to receive such prestigious accreditation from the Craft Guild of Chefs. It really underlines the high standards we have in every aspect of our course and delivery.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure to be involved and assessed by the Craft Guild of Chefs for the college accreditation award. To be assessed by industry professionals and presented with this prestigious accolade is fantastic. The team work so hard for the students each and every year and this just confirms what they do and makes it all worth it. I would urge any hospitality department to undertake this assessment.”
Jo Maher, Principal & CEO at Loughborough College, added: “I am delighted and proud that we are the first college in the UK to be accredited by the Craft Guild of Chefs. Our hospitality staff and students are a credit to Loughborough College and thoroughly deserve this accolade for their consistently high standards and hard work.”
The assessment day also included a review of the Radmoor Restaurant which was conducted by David McKown and Rupert Rowley, members of the Management Committee at the Craft Guild of Chefs.
Professor David Foskett, Chief Assessor from the Craft Guild of Chefs, said: "Accreditation gives institutions professional recognition. It demonstrates that the courses and curriculum offered have industry credibility and the facilities and resources are of industry standard to pass the external employer audit. In addition, it recognises that your students have the employability skills required by the global hospitality industry.”
As the leading chef association in the UK, The Craft Guild of Chefs has always been committed to increasing the standards of professional cooking through greater awareness, education, and training. It is keen to do more to inspire the next generation of chefs at a grassroots level, which is why it launched the accreditation programme.
The scheme is aimed at colleges and universities that want to benefit from the association’s decades of experience and to tap into its extensive network of chefs by associating their faculty with the Craft Guild of Chefs name. It also offers colleges access to high profile chefs who can be asked to become guest speakers and College Patrons.
Pictured: The Radmoor Restaurant Team at Loughborough College (please note, photo was taken before March 2020).