Greenock restaurant has recipe for success with apprentices

Bosses at Fenwick 47 on West Blackhall Street have taken on Greenock cooks Shannon Murphy, 23, and Scott Anderson, 18, and say that investing in youth is a key ingredient for the business.

It comes as events take place across the country to mark Scottish Apprenticeship Week from March 5-9 and follows the recent launch of Year of the Young People 2018, which is celebrating the contribution and impact young people make in communities across the country.

The Greenock trainees are cooking up a storm working under respected head chef Tony Reid.

Shannon, who lives in Bow Road, is newly-qualified having gained an HND in professional cookery and patisserie from the City of Glasgow College following a stint studying at the West College Scotland (WCS) campus in Finnart Street.

She said: “In my last year at college I was working in patisserie so this is a completely different learning curve for me.

“This is the first time I’ve worked in a restaurant and it’s excellent because I just love cooking.

“It’s a nice bonus for me to have started in here before I graduated.”

Fellow chef Scott, who is from Broomhill, is currently working his way through his cookery qualifications at WCS Greenock and has loved every minute of his apprenticeship so far.

He said: “It’s great in here and I’m learning a lot.

“This is a great experience for me.”

Fenwick’s opened in September last year and currently employs 13 members of staff.

General manager, Alex McGilp, is delighted to welcome the new recruits on board.

He said: “We’re pleased to give these guys an opportunity, especially with 2018 being the Year of Young People.

“They have a real interest in cooking and both want to make a career out of it and who better to learn from than Tony, who has vast experience and has taken these young kids under his wing.

“The future of the industry is in good hands with these guys.”
Head chef Tony added: “I’m delighted to be supporting chefs of tomorrow.”