http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2008/01/28/318532/gordon-ramsay-to-launch-uk-chef-academy.html

Gordon Ramsay to launch UK chef academy
(28 January 2008 07:00)

Gordon Ramsay is planning to set up a catering academy in the UK to combat what he sees as the poor standard of catering colleges, Caterersearch can reveal.

Speaking at the official launch of Maze Prague last week, Ramsay said the cookery school would be his “next big thing”.

“I’m fed up not just with the NVQ standards, but at what’s coming out of our catering schools,” Ramsay said. “I want to set up my own modern day apprentice scheme, where students will experience everything from a most amazing pub, to a one, two, or three Michelin starred establishment.

“And if they want to spend three months in a florist, followed by a two-month stint with one of our bakers, or a stint in New York, then we will arrange it,” the chef added.

Asked whether the college would be based in London, Ramsay replied: “It’s going to central – that’s all I can say. And I’m not talking about fast track courses here - I’m talking about six months, to 18 months to two year courses, issuing our own diplomas.”

Fellow chefs Marco Pierre White and Oliver Peyton caused a storm last year when they described catering colleges as “the biggest waste of time” and “a stop-off before you're sent to prison” respectively.

McDonalds is offering training too.

http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s1i29547

McDonalds, the fast food machine, has reacted angrily to criticism of its plan to offer qualifications to members of staff, saying that any qualifications awarded will only be valid in other participating branches of its outlets.

Critics launched scathing attacks on McDonalds when it was announced earlier today that workers within its vast organisation could complete in-house training courses, and benefit from awards, which could even be used towards a university degree.

But McBosses replied saying that, staff would only be able to use their 'qualifications' in other McDonalds, and then only during off-peak times. In reality, said a spokesman, they were "worthless".

McDonalds are amongst the top 2million employers in the world for staff training, and last week introduced plans for a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Wiping Tables, a Post-graduate degree course in Using A Squeegy Mop, and a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in Cleaning Around the U-Bend.

Several other vocational courses are still at the planning stage, including Getting the Order Wrong, Short-changing Customers, and Greetings Excellence.

McDonalds marketing supremo, Rod Psycho, said:

"We believe in training our staff to a high standard. When they respond to training, we feel it's only right to reward their perseverance with us. That's why we have introduced these 'awards'. When employees try to use these awards in the real world, however, they will find them not worth the paper they are written on."