The catering and hospitality team at North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSLC) was described as ‘professional and committed’ and its students as ‘enthusiastic and passionate about their course’ by the Craft Guild of Chefs, the UK’s leading chefs’ association.

The Craft Guild of Chefs provided its endorsement for the college following an assessment visit earlier this year. Students prepared and served lunch to assessor David McKown, MBE FIH. On his tour of the college’s facilities, David commended the realistic working environment for students, the college’s strong links with industry and the team’s staff development activities.

McKown said: “Having spoken to four students, who were all extremely enthusiastic about their course, I was surprised and pleased that three of them were interested in a front of house career.

“This is great testament to the work done in delivering a rich learning programme in restaurant service. The students presented themselves as hospitality professionals and are highly motivated to do well and very positive in their outlook.”

NWSLC offers courses from entry level to Level 3 in professional cookery and front of house skills at its Nuneaton Campus and operates the Glebegate training restaurant which is open to the public during term time.

NWSLC is progressing plans to re-locate its training restaurant to a state-of-the-art new campus in Nuneaton town centre providing support for the hospitality industry and helping with the regeneration of the town. The additional campus will be located in the former Co-op building on Abbey Street in Nuneaton and is due to be built with investment from the government’s Towns Fund.

Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, principal and chief executive of NWSLC said, “We are delighted to be endorsed as a Craft Guild of Chefs college and thank David McKown for his comments.

“The catering and hospitality team at NWSLC has a significant track record of success in national and international competitions and many of its former students have progressed into roles with prestigious establishments including the Ritz Hotel London and Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons.”

Each accredited college is now eligible for the Craft Guild of Chefs Awards Accredited College Restaurant of the Year Award category. Brand new for 2023, a shortlist of colleges will be created by the Craft Guild of Chefs Education Committee and each establishment on the shortlist will be visited and judged to find the winner.

The 2023 Craft Guild of Chefs Awards will be held at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London, on the 1st June 2023.