Congratulations to Paula Flook (cook at Sofrydd Primary School) who recently completed her Trainee Assistant Cook course and has recently been awarded Coleg Gwent ‘Service Sector Apprentice of the Year’ in Hospitality and Catering. In addition to this fantastic accomplishment Paula has also been presented with the winning award for the overall ‘Foundation Apprentice of the Year’ at Coleg Gwent.
This is such an achievement to embrace new challenges, develop skills and then be recognised for all her hard work. The award is so well deserved as Paula has shown much effort and determination to complete her course throughout a pandemic.
Paula has worked her way up the ladder and was successful in her appointment as cook at Sofrydd Primary School after completing her apprenticeship training with Coleg Gwent over an 18 month period.
Apprenticeship training runs alongside the Blaenau Gwent school catering training programme to ensure staff have a comprehensive understanding of managing a school kitchen, all training takes place within their site kitchen. Since the programme began, four years ago, it has proved successful in developing staff with two cooks and five assistant cooks appointed to date. A further two members of staff are due to complete their training in September 2021 with another two beginning the programme the same month.