Light bites: Chefs open day
Searching for that dream job can be a daunting task but, for chefs in the Brighton and Hove area at least, finding employment may not be so difficult. www.brightonandhovejobs.com, the city’s dedicated jobs board, has posted over 100 ads for chef positions over the last year and numbers are expected to rise in the second half of 2012.
A recent report shows that competition for chef positions in Brighton is considerably lower than the national average with nine applications per job compared with 23 nationally. This means there are opportunities for talented chefs to shine in the industry.
The city has a history of culinary excellence and its 400 registered restaurants and pubs are the largest number per head outside of central London. This includes the Hilton Brighton Metropole, which has just launched a recruitment campaign through BrightonandHoveJobs.com.
On Tuesday, July 24, the hotel will be running a Chefs Open Day offering contestants the chance to win a career with the company.
Anthony Molnar, Executive Chef at the Hilton Brighton Metropole, said, “Brighton is a rich, multicultural city and this is reflected in its cuisine. There are all these different influences coming together to make something uniquely Brighton.
“We regularly recruit fresh talent for our kitchen. Our chefs need discipline, enthusiasm, and creativity to succeed but there are few jobs which offer the same buzz as working in a busy kitchen during service.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming the winners of the open day into our team.” Although the competition will undoubtedly attract entrants from across the south, the judges may not need to look very far for the potential winners as the newly qualified chefs from City College Brighton and Hove will be eager to prove their skills. Previous graduates from City College Brighton and Hove catering courses include past-winners of the Roux Scholarship, the Young Chef of the Year award and Simon Duncan, who became Head Chef at Sam’s of Brighton at just 21 years of age – an encouraging sign for the 40 graduates leaving the college this summer.
Successful chef, Ben McKellar, started his training at City College but furthered his education in France and New York before returning home to Brighton to set up his Michelin star chain of ‘Gingerman’ restaurants.
Gary Peters, founder of BrightonandHoveJobs.com, said, “The number of roles we advertise is expanding all the time. Our goal is to be a one-stop shop for all job opportunities in the Brighton and Hove areas.
“We are working in partnership with many of the top restaurants and hotels in Brighton and Hove to ensure that we are the first (and hopefully last) place that chefs need to visit in their search for work. “Brighton and Hove attracts some of the best chefs from across the UK but there is still space for local talent to flourish. Why go anywhere else?”
To register for the Hilton Brighton Metropole Open Day visit www.brightonandhovejobs.com
