CLIFF Academy, Ireland’s first professional cookery school offering City & Guilds qualifications has just produced nine talented graduates, the first group to take the Level 2 Diploma in Culinary Arts and Food Preparation at the new facility.

The young chefs began their culinary education in January, with the course taking place over a period of 20 weeks and concluding in June with a celebratory lunch prepared by the newly qualified chefs. The course has been established wiwth the support of the Restaurant Association of Ireland and is set to address the recruitment shortage in the chef industry.

The students earned their stripes under the watchful eyes of tutor Martin Potts of Synergy ProChef and Patrick Flanagan. The new graduates are Ali McDonnell, Yvonne Kelly, Kanchana Wichajan, Clare Corrigan, Michael Storey, Piotr Gren, David Carpenter, Reinis Vidins and Bradley Allen.

The CLIFF Academy is open to prospective students who are 17 years or older and no prior cooking experience is required. For more information email academy@cliffatlyons or call 01 630 3500.