Cooking apprenticeships are struggling to attract young people, according to industry figures, who instead urge aspiring chefs to enter culinary competitions to hone their skills. The warning comes as the allure of becoming a social media chef diverts youngsters from classic training routes.
Social Media vs. Traditional Training
Will Murray, who worked at the double Michelin-starred Dinner by Heston before opening his acclaimed restaurant Fallow, noted that social media cooking videos often misrepresent the realities of professional kitchens. "Social media has helped people get into cooking, but I don't think it's the best way. There's so much content online that people look for knowledge elsewhere, bypassing traditional gateways," he said. He cautioned that viral recipes may set unrealistic expectations, leading to a harsh entry into the culinary world.
Murray highlighted that many apprenticeships nationwide are struggling to find young talent. "A lot of apprenticeships are struggling to get young people inspired," he added.
The Value of Competitions
Murray, a judge for the San Pellegrino Academy, emphasized that competitions like the Roux Scholarship help forge essential skills. The scholarship winner, 28-year-old Harrison Brockington, head chef at Gather in Totnes, Devon, won a three-month apprenticeship at a three-Michelin-star restaurant with his Mediterranean-inspired Surf & Turf dish. Murray said, "Competitions are a pressure cooker that teaches high-level work. Exposing young people to that is brilliant."
Emily Roux, Michelin-starred chef at Caractère in Notting Hill and daughter of celebrity chef Michel Roux Jr., also judges the San Pellegrino awards. She noted that competitions test skills in high-pressure environments and foster learning from peers. "They are great life lessons, putting pressure on yourself. You learn from other candidates and gain new skills," she said.
Criticism from MasterChef Judges
New MasterChef judges Anna Haugh and Grace Dent have criticized unrealistic cooking videos on TikTok. Haugh said, "Some social media content breaks my heart as a chef—it's not true, it can't be done." Dent added, "Many recipes don't work. I've been foolish enough to try them—like a cake that supposedly takes two and a half minutes with just bicarbonate of soda, a frying pan, and an egg."
Despite the challenges, Fallow has found hiring easier due to its 1.5 million Instagram followers, posting videos of innovative dishes like whole cod's head in sriracha butter. However, industry figures maintain that competitions and apprenticeships remain essential for genuine culinary mastery.
