Chef Network Skillnet to Deliver Professional Development Training for Chefs
Chef Network will now be recognised as an official training body for Ireland’s chefs. The online chef community, with almost 3000 members, has been awarded Skillnets funding to provide professional development training for the sector. The funding will be used to support training across the areas of Personal & Leadership, Business and Culinary Skills for chefs.
Speaking at the launch of the Chef Network Skillnet Training, Head of Community with Chef Network, Ruth Hegarty said: “This is a really exciting development for Chef Network. Having established a community for Ireland’s chefs, our next step is to focus on expanding the knowledge and skills base of chefs within the industry, the establishment of Chef Network Skillnet allows us the opportunity to achieve that goal.”
Chef Network, an Irish Foodservice Suppliers Alliance (IFSA) initiative, is a peer learning and knowledge sharing platform spearheaded by its members, which aims to tackle industry challenges, find positive solutions to improve the sector and showcase the career opportunities for chefs in Ireland.
John Cunningham, Chair of IFSA, at the launch of the Chef Network Skillnet Training breakfast meeting, which took place at Food & Bev Live 2018 in Citywest Hotel & Conference Centre on Wednesday, 7th February said “The initiatives rolled out by Chef Network are pioneering the way forward in this sector. IFSA is proud to be supporting Chef Network and the future of chefs in Ireland.”
The training delivered by Chef Network Skillnet is tailored and chef-led with primarily short programmes and modules aimed at advancing careers and upskilling. 36 individual training courses will take place nationwide in 2018. Some of the courses available include;
- Leading and Managing People
- Cost Management and Kitchen Profitability
- Tackling Food Waste
- Culinary Skills including Sourdough Baking, Plating & Presentation, Seaweed Cookery
Chefs & employers wishing to take part in the Chef Network Skillnet can avail of training for their teams by emailing info@chefnetwork.ie or can view the Training Calendar for 2018 onwww.chefnetwork.ie.
The Chef Network Skillnet is funded by member companies and the Training Networks Programme, an initiative of Skillnets funded from the National Training Fund through the Department of Education and Skills.
Chefs can sign-up to Chef Network for free at www.chefnetwork.ie, where they can set-up a profile, join communities, discussion forums, search and post job vacancies and join in educational events. For more information on IFSA, its members and its initiatives for 2018 visit www.ifsa.eu.com
Further info:
Skillnets
Skillnets is a national agency, actively supporting and working with businesses in Ireland to address their current and future skills needs. Skillnets currently fund 67 training networks, supporting over 14,000 companies and 50,000 trainees across Ireland. Each training network, funded by Skillnets, is a cluster of companies from the same sector or geographical location, with similar training needs. Member companies actively participate in determining their own training needs and programmes are optimised to suit their ever-changing skill demands.
Skillnets was established in 1999 and is funded from the National Training Fund (NTF) through the Department of Education and Skills (DES).
For further information: www.skillnets.ie
Chef Network
Launched in February 2016, Chef Network is a professional network connecting all of Ireland’s chefs, initiated and supported by the Irish Food Service Alliance (IFSA) and led by chefs. We are bringing together chefs from all sectors, at all stages of their careers, to communicate, collaborate, share and innovate. We are focused on education and training, business development, personal and professional development. We are fostering greater cooperation and engagement between Ireland’s Chefs and taking the lead in driving the industry forward at this exciting time in Ireland’s culinary journey.