Rick Stein joined a group of professional cookery apprentices to toast their at a special ceremony on Tuesday.

The graduates, who studied the VTCT level two diploma in professional cookery at Truro and Penwith College, and worked within Stein restaurants, joined Rick and senior management of the college at The Seafood Restaurant in Padstow on Tuesday to celebrate the success of the course.

Training adviser for hospitality and catering Tony Duce, who represented the college alongside vocational programme team leader Graham Oxley, thanked the management team at Rick Stein Group for its “continuing support.”

He also took time to praise graduate Ilham Dani, who has secured employment at The Seafood Restaurant through the course and also won the Apprentice Achiever of the Year at the first-ever Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards last year.

He said: “Ilham excelled on getting through the programme despite English not being his first language. His skills in the kitchen improved dramatically and he has recently moved to work at The Seafood Restaurant.”

Mr Duce added: “Anyone interested in apprenticeships with Rick Stein Group should look at the company’s website for lots of exciting opportunities.”

There are already 11 Rick Stein Group VTCT level two diploma apprentices halfway through this year’s programme. They have spent five weeks training at Truro and Penwith College and have now moved to the Rick Stein’s Cookery School, where lessons and masterclasses continue throughout the year.

Mr Stein said: “Joining an apprenticeship scheme in our industry means you will gain a wealth of experience and knowledge; there is no substitute for learning while working because you rapidly develop the skills needed.”