At the House of Commons on Thursday 6th December Lime Wood Hotel was awarded Employer of the Year at the Hospitality Guild Apprenticeship Awards and Head Chef Luke Holder shortlisted as Mentor of the Year. The Awards were opened by Minister for Skills, Matthew Hancock, who said, “since the Guild’s foundation they have been a passionate advocate for apprenticeships, bringing the industry together.”
Luke Holder and his team have nurtured apprentices throughout 2012. They arrive with a blank piece of paper after which the team then shows them what they want and how they want it, guiding and nurturing these fledgling chefs every step of the way. Dan Humphries, an apprentice who hadn’t even touched a fish before arriving in Lime Wood’s kitchens, says, “Luke Holder is full of knowledge and really shows those on the scheme the very best way to do something.”
Throughout the scheme apprentices get a real awareness of what it takes to be a good chef. Lime Wood will be welcoming Angela Hartnett in February 2013 when the hotel’s new restaurant, Hartnett Holder & Co, will open.
