The principal of CWA has rolled up his sleeves and gone ‘back to the floor’ working alongside a catering apprentice in the kitchen at Congham Hall as part of National Apprenticeship week. Principal David Pomfret worked alongside CWA apprentice chef Tyler Dawes in the busy kitchen, in every aspect of the apprentice’s day at work. David helped prepare and cook everything including carrot cakes, macaroons and fruit compote to sticky toffee pudding. Mr Pomfret said: “I think it’s really important to see the apprenticeship scheme through the eyes of the apprentice. The experience also lets us see how we can improve training opportunities, based on what the employer expects”. Tyler, 17 from Gayton, who is due to complete his 2 year hospitality & catering apprenticeship said: “It’s been fun this morning, having someone else in the kitchen who is being treated as an apprentice. I love cooking here at Congham, but I really dislike cooking at home! It’s a really good atmosphere in the kitchen and a lot of fun” Tyler is currently completing a level 2 intermediate apprenticeship but hopes to progress to the level 3 advanced apprenticeship next year. “I really didn’t enjoy school and didn’t do very well. I developed a real phobia of exams, so when I scored 95% on a recent maths exam, I felt I had really achieved something”. At the end of Mr Pomfrets day, head chef Nick Claxton-Webb, said: “I have trained many chefs and truly believe that apprenticeships are key to success within the industry. The great thing about working in a kitchen is the results come straight away, your finished product and feedback from the customers can really boost a young person’s confidence. I believe anyone can reach their full potential if given the right opportunities, such as apprenticeships”.