Wherever possible, the Company utilizes the industry knowledge and expertise of members to advance the craft of cookery. Assistance is freely given and potential solutions sought, with the particular intent of helping young people at the start of their careers. We work also with organisations that have an interest in food and cookery who want to partner with us in championing the craft.
Apprentice Cooks
In September 2013, the Company launched the Worshipful Company of Cooks’ Apprenticeship Programme in partnership with Westminster Kingsway College. We sponsor 32 apprentices a year studying for a City & Guilds Trailblazer qualification in Professional Cookery, who learn both at college and in the workplace.
The apprentices benefit from our financial and practical support, such as the provision of essential cooking equipment and specialist tuition ranging from the rigours of military catering to culinary master-classes. On graduation, each apprentice is given an award to mark the occasion and The Fooks Trophy is presented to the highest achiever.
Learn moreCareers in Cookery
Every year we promote catering as a career option, introducing young people to the art and craft of cookery at the Livery Schools Link Showcase held at the Guildhall – a careers event that is attended by about 1,000 students from 47 London schools. As a Livery Schools Link member, we are committed to addressing the ‘real world’ needs of student employability.
The Cooks is one of the 16 Livery Companies that helped form The City and Guilds of London Institute in 1878. Today, we jointly sponsor two charity organisations that offer City & Guilds qualifications: Lakefield Hospitality College set up to train young women in professional cookery and hospitality; and The House of St Barnabas, an academy that offers homeless people practical skills and experience in its ‘not-for-profit’ members club, helping them back to lasting paid employment.
Culinary Excellence
We seek to encourage excellence by sponsoring competitions and competitors. At Hotelympia, we are a principal sponsor of the International Salon Culinaire, the UK’s largest chefs’ competition programme. We also sponsor the Combined Services Culinary Arts Team (CSCAT) allowing the 36 best chefs in the Armed Forces to compete in national and international competitions, including the World Culinary Olympics.
We sponsor the National Association of Care Catering (NACC) Care Chef of the Year Awards, and we give prizes for catering exercises run by 167 Regiment of the Royal Logistic Corps. With the annual William Heptinstall Award, we inspire emerging talent with a financial grant made to the young chef who makes the best case to widen his or her knowledge of the craft through travel and study.
Learn more about...
167 Regiment Royal Logistics Corp
