Professional Cookery Apprenticeship – 2025

Start your career as a professional Chef with a two year professional cookery apprenticeship

Do you enjoy cooking for friends and family and would like to make it into a career?

Douneside House is delighted to be a part of the Hospitality Apprenticeship North East scheme and we're looking for an Professional Cookery Apprentice to join us for the next apprenticeship intake in 2025.

During this time you will spend time in our three rosette kitchen, learning and experiencing all the different sections of a commercial kitchen. By the end of the apprenticeship, you'll be well placed to take on a Commis Chef role in any top kitchen around the world.

At the end of your apprenticeship you will receive a SVQ in Professional Cookery from Glasgow College - so its a great way to combine on-the-job training with industry recognised qualifications.

Why Douneside?

Douneside House is a hotel with a difference. We are owned and run by The MacRobert Trust, a charitable Trust based in Aberdeenshire, which gives us unique values and a focus on our team and their development.

Based in beautiful Royal Deeside, Douneside House is home to Aberdeenshire’s only three rosette awarded restaurant. . We have 13 bedrooms and a range of holiday cottages and apartments. Our on-site Health Club has a swimming pool, state-of-the-art gym, sauna, jacuzzi and steam room – which our team can use and enjoy on their time off.

Outside, we are situated within Royal Horticulture Society Accredited Gardens and each year six garden trainees join our team too to undertake horticulture training and qualifications.

You will be joining a small, passionate team.. Our apprentices can expect to work hard, learn lots, and have lots of fun whilst being well supported and gaining opportunities to learn all about this fantastic hospitality industry.

The Ideal Apprentice:

-Keen to learn new skills
-Loves to cook!
-Excited about a career in hospitality
-Hard working

Who Can Apply?

People already working in the sector, as well as new entrants, are welcome to apply. The scheme is also open to school leavers.
No formal qualifications are necessary. Apprentices must be under the age of 25 when they start.

Apprentices will earn national living wage, plus a share of gratuities. Shared accommodation in the local village of Tarland is available.