Adam Killingley, James Smith and Tas Hamilton all completed their Professional Cookery qualifications at West Herts College and now work as Junior Sous Chefs at Wembley Stadium.
Starting in September 2019 on Level 1, they progressed through to Level 2 and completed their studies in June 2022 with the Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Professional Cookery.
Thanks to our Head of Food Academy, Andy Wakeford’s strong industry connections, Harry Lomas MBE, Head of Culinary at Wembley Stadium, annually visits the college to deliver masterclasses to our Professional Cookery students.
Whilst all three students were on the second year of the Level 3 course, Harry gave the class the opportunity to complete one day of work experience - to cook alongside professional chefs during the EFL Cup Final. The group were given a tour of the stadium, and each assigned a role. Impressed with their skills and potential, Harry offered the budding chefs job roles on future match days.
From this opportunity, Adam and James started working at Wembley Stadium as Kitchen Assistants alongside their studies. Shortly after finishing College, Tas joined, and Harry made the trio Chef de Parties. In 2023, Tas won ‘Rising Star Chef of the Year’ at the North Stars Conference and Awards.
After working in the kitchens a few years, they have now been promoted to Junior Sous Chefs where they each manage a team of casuals to make sure events run smoothly. To further develop their management skills, they are currently studying a Level 4 Chef Management Development Programme accredited by the Worshipful Company of Cooks of London.
Their stories have now come full circle as they have recently come back to College to deliver their own masterclass to our current Professional Cookery students, overseen by Chef Harry and his team.
Andy Wakeford says of our three former students: “We are very proud of these young men and what they have achieved in such a short space of time and how much they have developed their cooking organisational skills and knowledge since leaving College. They are a credit to Wembley Stadium and West Herts College. A big thank you to Delaware North and Harry and his team for affording their time to enable them to develop as young adults and chefs in such an iconic stadium.”
We’re so proud of Adam, James and Tas for all they’ve achieved during their time with us and since leaving College.
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