After one month of being thrown in the deep end and going up one steep learning curve, I am pleased to announce that our Fifteen Cornwall students, James Bennetts and Ben Lindsay have successfully completed their work placement with The Oyster Shack. It has been a real test for both boys, but they have more than exceeded our expectations. I am also pleased to report that due to all his hard-work and determination over the past month, James has been offered a permanent job at The Oyster Shack, so we look forward seeing much more of him around the Shacks! Ben intends to see a bit more of the world before settling down, and plans to head to France to work a ski season, so we wish him all the very best!

After one year’s hard work, there was only one thing left to do – graduate! The Fifteen Cornwall Graduation 2008 was held at the spectacular Eden Project, and Chris, Daniel, Lee and Gemma headed down to support the boys on their big night. And what a night it was! Canape’s were served by Fifteen’s third intake of brand-new students, and then it was time for Ben, James and their fellow students to go on stage and receive their awards. James and Ben graduated in style, with a big shout-out to The Oyster Shack!

Congratulations to both James and Ben, and we look forward to welcoming James back to The Oyster Shack! The third co-hort of students have already commenced the Fifteen programme this month so watch this space……….

The Oyster Shack welcomes placement students from Fifteen Cornwall

Last Summer, representatives from The Oyster Shack; Lee Groves, Daniel Ough and Gemma Poppy, went down to Fifteen Cornwall to celebrate the graduation of the first years intake of Fifteen Cornwall students. These students are youngsters who have typically come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and want to turn their lives around. Fifteen Cornwall is a restaurant developed by celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver, who recognised that giving young people focus and motivation to succeed in the kitchen gave them a purpose and a drive to achieve great things. The Cornwall Foundation of Promise is the charity set up to work with Fifteen Cornwall which provides all of the funding for training the students. The Oyster Shack was inspired by this innovative charity, and decided straightaway that they wanted to get involved.

Nearly one year later, and after numerous conversations and welcoming representatives from Fifteen Cornwall to The Oyster Shack, we are pleased to announce that we will be welcoming not one, but two Fifteen Cornwall trainees to The Oyster Shack on 20^th May, their names are James Bennetts and Ben Lindsay. This will be very exciting for the trainees who will get to experience a whole new working environment, and will get the opportunity to work with our own talented chefs. We are very much looking forward to welcoming them, and showing them our own unique Shack way of doing things! They will be working exclusively in our kitchens at The Oyster Shack Salcombe and Bigbury in order to give them a well-rounded experience, so you might be able to spot them when you next visit!