The 15 budding chefs spent the morning in the kitchen at Wheelers learning how to prepare a range of dishes from the restaurant's à la carte menu from Pierre White and his team. An ex apprentice himself and the youngest chef ever to have been awarded three Michelin stars for his restaurants, White is a keen advocate of apprenticeships, and recommends aspiring chefs to seriously consider taking one. So much so, he is now starring in a new advertising campaign for apprenticeships. It was a pleasure to meet the 15 apprentices, says White, who spent all morning with them. "In my opinion, an apprenticeship is a passport to a future career. Apprenticeships are the future." The viral campaign consists of three films showing how White's life could have been without his apprenticeship. The films feature him operating a burger van, a world away from the haute cuisine restaurants he usually inhabits. The films can be seen at: www.apprenticeships.org.uk For the lucky 15, the masterclass has given them a day to remember. Throughout the morning, White gave an insight into his experience as an apprentice, advising the youngsters on how enhance their prospects. "I am never going to forget this experience," said Rebecca Marshman, who is doing her apprenticeship at Rules Restaurant in Covent Garden. "Marco chatted to us all – he's amazing. Doing this has enabled me to see how other people work, what other apprenticeships are like and see what new skills I can learn. It's also confirmed that I am absolutely doing the right thing for me." Simon Waugh, chief executive of the National Apprenticeship Service, described Marco Pierre White as a shining light in the apprenticeship community, adding that "Marco's success is proof of what apprenticeships can do for young people. He is a great advocate for us and we are delighted he agreed to feature in our new campaign." Apprenticeships in hospitality are on the rise with 17,000 starting last year. The National Apprenticeship Service has more than 8,000 live vacancies on its online matching service and 5,000 employers have just signed up take on an unemployed 16 or 17 year old as part of AGE (Apprenticeship Grants for Employers).