COME ON - BACK ESSENTIAL SKILLS!

The shortage of skills in the hospitality industry is a burning issue close to our hearts at Essential Cuisine. Throwing weight behind the cause, we are sponsoring the 11th annual Skills for Chefs Conference on 23-24 June at The Octagon Centre, University of Sheffield.

A skill is defined as a “proficiency, facility, or dexterity acquired or developed through training or experience”. Problem is, although the hospitality industry employs more than two million people, a figure expected to reach 2.5 million by the end of this year, there is still a skills shortage.

It’s a pressing problem Essential Cuisine is keen to highlight through its backing of the Skills for Chefs Conference, which showcases the talents of leading chefs, shares skills and knowledge, spotlights topical and political issues and prompts networking between colleagues and suppliers.

The company is sponsoring one of two new culinary competitions, which sits alongside a series of Taste and Sensory Workshops, with results being announced at a gala dinner.

There will be a heat for Senior Chefs (those over the age of 21) and one for Junior Chefs between the ages of 18 and 21. Finalists will be asked to produce two covers in forty minutes using a product from the Essential Cuisine range2 (including the recently launched Signature Beef Jus), in the creation of their competition meal that must also feature duck breast.

The Signature Dish will be judged by a team of top chefs including Andrew Bennett, executive chef from The Park Lane Hotel and Nigel Crane, managing director of Essential Cuisine.

For further information on the conference visit www.skillsforchefs.co.uk  If you are interested in the competition, email d.mckown@sheffield.ac.uk