Ashburton Cookery School's Cookery Diploma is a 20 day, practical cookery course designed for those looking to take their cookery skills to a professional level.

Typically students that join our diploma have had another career, or broad life experience, and are looking for comprehensive, practical cookery training that takes their cookery skills to a professional level without them having to pursue an unnecessary NVQ route at a catering college for young students which would take a year of vocational assessment.

Typical ambitions of students that come on our Diploma course include:

• launching a career in catering as a chef;
• opening a bistro or restaurant;
• working as a chalet or yacht chef;
• launching a corporate/outdoor catering business;
• personal cookery skill development;

We cover all the skills that are required in a professional catering environment. Over a four-week period, we train you to the standard of cooking expected at NVQ Level 3.

Whilst this course will contain the necessary components of theory to develop your knowledge, this is a very practical, hands-on course and the amount of time you will be cooking is maximised.

You will not spend hours of your day washing up, or weighing flour and peeling potatoes as you will do at most other cookery schools - we take care of that. The essential ingredients for the day are pre-weighed and prepared for you to maximise your cooking time (unless it is an essential aspect of the training. i.e if you are learning to fillet a flounder, you will get a whole flounder.)

Over the course of the 4 weeks you will work with our five highly experienced, full-time chef tutors, all of whom have a wealth of experience in catering and teaching.

We are blessed with some of Europe's finest produce in Ashburton, and your cooking will benefit from the highest quality ingredients, sourced from local, organic, sustainable food producers whenever possible.

With a strong focus on presentation also, you will be amazed at the range of restaurant quality food you will be producing daily.

Your lunch and early evening dinner menus will feature the recipes you are working on that day, so you won't be leaving the course hungry!

At the end of this course you will be at our advanced level of cookery - level 4.

This course can be run at either the Garden Kitchen or the New Cookery School depending on demand.

Booking this course

You can secure your place on a Cookery Diploma with a £500 non-refundable deposit. The remaining balance is payable 6 weeks prior to the start of the course.

Residential

Most students stay with us during their diploma. We offer special pricing for Diploma students of £999 for 20 nights (Sun to Thurs) B&B accommodation (£49.95 per night) at our accommodation in Ashburton Court. Click here to see the rooms. Please call us to enquire about availability.

Professional Culinary Diploma

If you are looking for a professional accredited qualification, you should consider the Ashburton Chefs Academy's Professional Culinary Diploma. A 6 month training course for aspiring chefs.

Financial Assistance

Professional Career and Development Loan