Henshaws student thrives in new job

Jake Vicars, 21, started his job as a kitchen assistant at Starbeck's Eat @ No.3 café in January, one day a week, to fit alongside his studies.

His role involves learning to prepare a range of dishes from scratch for customers at the café, which is run by Mike and Hayley Addyman.

Mike said: “Jake has adapted brilliantly to working here. I’ve enjoyed showing him the tricks of the trade, from how to chop vegetables safely and quickly to preparing café classics like chilli con carne and lasagne. Every week Jake chooses which dish he’d like to cook and we work together to create it from scratch.”

Job coach Patrick Barker accompanies Jake each week to provide any extra support, but encourages him to work as independently as possible.

Patrick said: “Jake is very independent. He’s a real natural in the kitchen and quickly picks up new cooking techniques. He’s even come up with his own unique take on a cooked breakfast using baked beans with a fried egg on top, cooked to perfection in the microwave. It’s brilliant that Jake can now apply all the skills he’s learnt at college to a real working environment.”

Jake said: “I’m happy in my new job. I like showing people what I’ve made.”

He is hoping to find full time employment in catering when he graduates from Henshaws Specialist College in July.