The Youngest Michelin Starred Chef?
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Talents at Work • Doniau ar Waith Across the UK, Vocational Qualifi- running their own businesses. And “As the Deputy Minister for Skills I cations (VQ) Day celebrates just as importantly, they have the am determined to see vocational individual successes across a wide drive and passion to succeed. qualifications be recognised range of economic sectors, taking in Guest of honour at the VQ Learner alongside academic qualifications accountancy, catering, construction, of the Year Award ceremony on 22 for their value to the individual and the creative industries, education, June 2011 in Cardiff was Jeff society. That is why Vocational engineering, management, science, Cuthbert, Welsh Government’s Qualifications Day is so important technology and more. Coinciding Deputy Minister for Skills. He said: and I’m delighted to see it establish with VQ Day 2011, this publication “Vocational qualifications have itself as an annual event. It is vital profiles diverse and impressive never been more important to the that we celebrate the success people achievements of individuals, home- economy and the individual. They achieve through their vocational grown in Wales. What they all have help us deliver the trained, talented qualifications in the same way we in common is a taste for hands-on employees that Welsh businesses celebrate academic achievements. Jeff Cuthbert, Deputy Minister for Skills learning, learning on the job or need to thrive. VQ Day gives us that focus.” VQ LEARNER OF THE YEAR WINNER VQ LEARNER OF THE YEAR WINNER The youngest Michelin Hold that starred chef? magazine Luke Thomas is a force to be He’s worked at the premier cover! reckoned with. He is passionate and Barbados resort, Sandy Lane and driven. He is aiming to be the cooked for Prince Charles. During Melissa Jenkins is ambitious and youngest Michelin starred chef in his time with the Individual entrepreneurial. Having achieved the world. He is notching up Restaurant Company he secured top marks in her National Diploma experience with the most famous placements at some of the top-rated in Photography at Bridgend and well-respected chefs in the restaurants in the world, including College, she stayed at the college to world at an incredible pace. He has two and three Michelin-starred study a BA degree in Photography. secured his own personal sponsors restaurants in Denmark, USA and She finished her course this year to travel around the world to learn the UK. Melissa Jenkins different catering specialisms from and has just been informed that the Ian Donald, Director the Individual the best. Dubai is his next stop, to standard of her work has gained her Restaurant Company who has John Wright, who was the main hone his seafood skills. an outstanding first class honours. mentored Luke said: “Luke has all judge for the Nikon Award, said: Apart from her excellent Two years ago, whilst at Yale the enthusiasm and passion of a “Melissa’s work really stood out for photography skills, what is being College Wrexham, he was crowned young person with a dream but the me. It wasn’t just the high standard noticed in the industry is her distinct Springboard Future Chef of the Year attitude and determination of a man of her images but her appreciation flair for business. 2009. on a mission. of photography as a business and This year, Melissa won the Nikon understanding for the need to He says that winning the I look forward to seeing this young Student of the Year Foundation promote your work via multiple competition opened many doors man grow into a world-renowned Award. This is one of the most high platforms. I think she will fit very well and the list of chefs he has since master of his craft.” into my team.” worked with runs like a Who’s Who profile awards that any student can He is now looking to invest in his of catering, including Heston win. own restaurant which he intends to Her work has been published in Blumenthal, Gary Rhodes and open in two years’ time. The Nikon Foundation offers final What Digital Camera? and other Gordon Ramsay. year photography students an national magazines. She’s had a 10 And now for the most breathtaking opportunity to win the ultimate page feature in the international news of all. It was only last year that career enhancing boost – three lifestyle magazine Sublime as well he was still a pupil at Connah’s month’s paid employment as a as having her work prominently Quay High School. Luke Thomas is photographer’s assistant to displayed on the highly coveted just 17 years old. renowned fashion and celebrity front cover. At the same time, she photographer John Wright. Living in has been setting up her own London, the winner also receives freelance fashion photography living expenses and a top of the business and shooting top fashion range Nikon professional camera designers’ new collections for and lens kit worth thousands. London Fashion Week. Vogue recently informed her they’d like to Luke Thomas see her. Building Trades Champion plumber Decorating China Emily Evans is known to her tutors at This year, Emily moved on to the Neath Port Talbot College as a truly international stage. In March 2011, exceptional student. After only three she represented Wales in China as months tuition on the Advanced part of the first ever Wales-China Craft Award in Painting and Skills Exchange. Decorating, she requested to sit the external examination and achieved One of ten students from six a merit grade at the first attempt. colleges from Wales to showcase vocational skills, she demonstrated Last year, Emily won a gold medal in her painting and decorating skills to the Wales Skillbuild final, achieving students from 12 colleges in one of the highest scores ever seen Chongqing – the fastest growing city in the competition. in the world. Emily Evans Lee James Cuthill Lee James Cuthill won the Wales Lee is considered an exceptional final of the SkillPLUMB competition student by his tutors at Yale College, earlier this year. Having been Wrexham, where he is studying for crowned Welsh Champion Plumber, an NVQ level 3 in plumbing. He is he is looking forward to the always keen to share his experiences opportunity to represent Wales at and skill development with other the UK final to be hosted in Leeds in students, and is a credit to the September 2011. college and his employer D I Jones Heating from Ruthin. SkillPLUMB is the UK skills competition organised by the Sector Skills Council SummitSkills for UK colleges, employers and training providers’ finest competitors. The UK final, which lasts for a number of days, brings together the winner from each national competition. VQ AWARD FINALIST Eleri breaks the A career on plastering mould the waves Eleri Evans is an unconventional Ian Lumsdaine, Deputy Director for Superfast learner Adam Edgar, 20, opportunity for our skilled young and distinctive plasterer. A single Skills at Neath Port Talbot College from Capel Curig, won a gold people to show that they can be mother of three, she first tried her said: “I am convinced she award in boatbuilding at the world beaters. They can put Wales, hand at other things before finding represents a true role model to SkillsCompetition Wales contest in as a small nation, on the map by her true vocation. women who may be interested in March this year, just months after demonstrating the quality of their pursuing a career in construction.” starting a course in the subject. work and showcasing the calibre of She started investing in her future the Welsh workforce generally.” once her children started school. By Looking for a change of pace from now, she works as a full-time outdoor sports, Adam, a ski plasterer, she has achieved instructor, enrolled on an NVQ in qualifications at level 3 at Neath boatbuilding maintenance and Port Talbot College through repair at Coleg Llandrillo in Pathways Training, and she’s been September 2010, little realising it congratulated by The Plaisterers’ would lead to a whole new direction Company for coming in the top four in life. He said: “After doing a little in the search for the UK Plastering bit of sailing, I wanted to know more Student of the Year. about how boats work. I definitely want to go into boat building now Through her achievements, her though. It has already taught me so world has been turned around. She much, and winning the competition has confidence in her own abilities, has shown me I am actually quite she is fully employed and working to good at it!” top UK standards, her children are proud of her and she says that she Barry Liles, Principal of Coleg Sir has not finished yet. Studying for the Gâr and Wales' official WorldSkills NVQ3, says Eleri, has opened her Eleri Evans Champion, said: "These Adam Edgar to further study. competitions provide an excellent Science, Engineering and Technology VQ AWARD FINALIST VQ AWARD FINALIST Forensic scientist always Webwide David represents looking for new angles UK on world stage David Bowen from Llandysul, who’s Having completed the first year of A Sara Davies said: “Christopher is David Bowen Levels at school, Christopher Lewis the most memorable and being studying for a National wanted a vocational qualification. inspirational student I’ve ever Diploma in IT at Coleg Sir Gâr, is He was interested in science and the known. He has inspired us more on a busy schedule. law and so enrolled at Bridgend than he will ever know.” College for a BTEC National Last year he won first place in the Diploma in Applied Science Wales-final of the web design (Forensic Science).