A former apprentice from Stratford-upon-Avon College is supporting the next generation of culinary talent after taking on an apprentice for their own business.
Lauren Watson is the owner of the Deli Café in Stratford-upon-Avon and has taken on Daniel Langridge-Edmunds as a Production Chef apprentice; continuing the cycle of apprenticeship opportunity and success.
Lauren originally began her apprenticeship journey with Stratford-upon-Avon College as a Front of House Apprentice with Warwick Conferences at the University of Warwick.
Working from a young age for the family business, Lauren was instilled with a strong work ethic and responsible nature. She chose to take the skills she had developed and apply them to the Front of House apprenticeship and was pleased with her experience: “It gave me invaluable experience in different sectors of this business and working life which opened many doors for me.”
After completing her apprenticeship, she gained a permanent role in the company as Receptionist. Fast forward seven years and an Events Manager role later, Lauren eventually decided that after the Covid-19 pandemic it was time for a change; the industry had altered and she was ready for a new challenge. Lauren and her partner decided to open Deli Café on Meer Street in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon in the winter of 2022 and have been successfully trading ever since.
With the business a success, Lauren decided to give someone the opportunity she had by learning on the job and offer an apprenticeship opportunity to Daniel: “It’s an exciting prospect for a relatively new company, with a small hardworking team with bags of potential to offer an apprenticeship.”
As well as a benefit for her team, apprenticeships are useful for the industry: “Students like I and many of us once were, who don’t fully know what career path they want to choose, it seems like a heavy decision to have to make at a young age. The benefits of apprenticeships are that you can have your foot in the door of working life, but still have the support, guidance and familiarity of education. All while learning exciting new skills and developing your mindset even further than school or college, I’ve always felt like an apprenticeship is the best of both worlds.”
Business Development Manager at the College, Bryan Anderson, commented: “I’m really excited to see Lauren using the experience she gained completing an apprenticeship and transferring these skills to opening and running a highly successful business. To then start offering a young person the same opportunity is the icing on the cake. Daniel will benefit from completing and apprenticeship in a busy working kitchen as not only will he learn new skills but get to practice them every day, as well as receiving the support of an outstanding mentor.”
