Prolific restaurant group D&D London, behind the likes of 14 Hills, Coq d’Argent and German Gymnasium, has today announced the launch of its Summer School, a paid training programme that aims to secure employment for people with little or no previous experience looking to enter the hospitality industry.
The Summer School will take place across the week commencing 5 July, with a cohort of 30 jobseekers taking part. If the inaugural Summer School is successful, further schools will take place throughout the summer.
The initiative will take place at 100 Wardour Street in London’s Soho, with attendees being divided into groups and trained for the commis waiter, commis chef and bar-back. Alongside formal skills training, participants will also receive interview training and feedback on their individual CVs to help improve their chances of securing work in the hospitality industry. Participants will be paid during their training and the course will culminate in an interview, with successful candidates offered employment at one of D&D London’s restaurants. All candidates will also get to take part in a graduation ceremony, attended by D&D London co-founders Des Gunewardena and David Loewi.
Due to the ongoing impact of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic, many UK hospitality businesses have reported staff shortages, with some even taking the decision to cut back their opening hours to protect the wellbeing of their existing teams. D&D London hopes that the Summer School will help to attract more staff not only to their restaurants, but the industry as a whole.
Speaking about the project, D&D London’s People Director Carol Cairnes said: “We are really looking forward to the start of the Summer School and I do feel that it will bring high quality staff into D&D. Although we hope all participants join us, even if they don’t, they will be more equipped and confident to explore a career in the hospitality industry in general.”
In similar news, a Michelin star London restaurant has announced it has ceased lunch service due to staff shortages.