Member Article

New role on the menu for Stokesley apprentice

A family-run Stokesley bistro has employed a local teenager after he successfully completed his apprenticeship.

Howard’s in Stokesley has appointed Jordan Hinchcliffe as commis chef after he gained his NVQ level 2 in professional cookery and finished his apprenticeship at the bistro.

The 19 year old chef joined Howard’s last May as an apprentice and, since then, has completed his training at Middlesbrough College.

Jordan trained alongside Howards’ head chef, Andrew Russell, who has worked at the bistro for the last four years having been in the industry working in a range of roles around the region for the last twenty years.

Andrew trained Jordan in a variety of aspects such as food preparation, health and safety and delivering a range of dishes in a busy kitchen. As part of Howards’ commitment to training and developing local people, managers have now taken Jordan on in a full time capacity.

Jordan said: “I’ve had a fantastic year learning from Andrew Russell in a busy kitchen. I am really pleased that I have been recruited as the new commis chef at Howard’s as I am keen to now build on what I have learnt. I really enjoy the variety of work that I do as the restaurant serves all day from breakfast to evening meals and we make everything from scratch.”

Howard’s was taken over by local businessman, Graham Howard, in 2008 and has continued to grow in popularity thanks to its mix of its Market Menu, family favourite dishes, comfort food and seasonally-changing menus.

Graham said: “We’re a local bistro that prides itself on encouraging staff development and training and providing opportunities for local people- all of our 15 staff live within a 10 mile radius of Stokesley. We like to nurture our staff and Jordan has really excelled in the last year so we are really pleased to now be able to offer him a full-time role.”

Howard’s has a number of accolades to its name, such as being included in the Harden’s UK Restaurant Guide- one of the UK’s most influential food guides- for four consecutive years.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anna Addison Associates .