Hospitality Apprenticeship Week 2019 - playing a big part

Sous Chef Naveed Mir is following his two career passions; catering and drama. He recently started on his performance of a lifetime - developing his catering management skills with a Senior Production Level 3 Apprenticeship.

"I originally studied Drama and Philosophy at college, but also worked as a hospitality host at Hammersmith Hospital. When Sodexo took over the catering contract (covering Imperial College Healthcare’s private services) in 2014, I was offered the chance to become a chef."

I knew I needed proper training, so went back to college to do a one-year Level 3 Professional Cookery course - Sodexo was happy for me to take one-day each week to train. It was hard work, but I really pushed myself and it paid off because I had exposure to great chefs with many years of culinary experience and really learned a lot, particularly about fine dining.

Naveed now spends a good part of his day in charge of a kitchen providing meals for the patients of 30 hospital rooms, as well as a fluctuating number of specialist consultants and day patients. After working for a period at the prestigious Lindo Wing at St Mary’s hospital, he recently joined the team at Thames View on the 15th floor of Charing Cross Hospital.

“I start at 12 noon each day working alongside our Head Chef to deliver lunches and when he signs off mid-afternoon, I work on preparing the dinners and helping get snacks and breakfast prepped ready for the morning chef. It can get quite hectic, but we work together as a team and always look out for each other.”

He welcomes any new challenge that comes his way, for the fresh perspective it gives him. He says:

I really appreciate that Sodexo took a chance and put their trust in me: every day I learn more about the philosophy of cooking from the head chefs. This really helped me last year when I had to step up to acting head chef.

“I still want to pursue acting and drama, at the moment I can do both. I’ve just started working with Sodexo’s training partners HIT Training on a new one-year Senior Production Level 3 Apprenticeship which will give me more management experience on business planning and staff management.

“I’ve also written a short film and am trying to arrange funding to get it into production. I set ambitious goals but try to be realistic in what I can achieve. Sodexo is being incredibly supportive.

There are plenty of similarities between being an actor and being a chef. Both have audiences and both put their emotions into their work - then you get judged on your performance.

“I love working in the hospital environment because I know that the food plays a big part of a patient’s day. No matter what they are going through, they can look forward to a good meal. This is my contribution to their recovery and that gives me great satisfaction.” 

Apprenticeships really are the art of the possible - start your apprenticeship journey! Register your interest by filling in this form - click here.

 

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Pictured

Naveed Mir in his current role as Sous Chef at Charing Cross Hospital