In 2024, the decision was made to strengthen our recruitment strategy by developing our own chefs from within. As part of this initiative, we successfully recruited Will Smith as an apprentice, and what a journey it has been.
During his apprenticeship, Will worked closely under the supervision of our Sous Chef, Rob, with the entire kitchen team playing an active role in his development. Guidance, support, and, according to our Head Chef Greg Staric, “a fair amount of constructive telling‑off” all contributed to helping Will grow in confidence and skill. Alongside his day‑to‑day kitchen work, Will has also been a valuable part of our outside catering operations, where he has consistently shown enthusiasm and commitment.
Will has proven himself to be a hard‑working, reliable team player, and our kitchen team describes him as “a genuine pleasure to work with.” Over the past year, he has grown significantly, not only as a chef but as a valued member of the wider team.
On 16 April 2026, Will completed his final practical assessment. We are delighted that he has successfully passed his Commis Chef qualification, achieving a distinction across all assessed areas!
This is a fantastic achievement and a true reflection of Will’s dedication and effort throughout his apprenticeship.
This success is also a testament to the commitment and support of the wider kitchen team, who have consistently shared their knowledge, skills, and experience to support Will on his development journey.
Looking ahead, Will is eager to continue building his confidence and experience in his role. Having completed his Commis Chef apprenticeship, his next goal is to progress further, with a long‑term ambition of becoming a Chef de Partie.
Will said:
Within the last year, I feel like I have grown into my role and furthered my experience through completing day‑to‑day tasks. I really enjoy working as part of the kitchen team. When it comes to outside catering, I particularly enjoy the larger events we’ve done over the year, including HMS Ceres and Wakefield Cathedral. These events have offered great learning opportunities and have helped me continue to improve.
Huge congratulations to Will on this outstanding achievement. We look forward to supporting him in the next stage of his career.
Find out more about our catering services here https://www.pwh.org.uk/about-us/the-caring-kitchen/
