Rachel Khoo & KETTLE® Chips Launch The KETTLE® Khoo Academy : Supporting & Driving People Into Gourmet Food Careers

Following the announcement of KETTLE® Chips first-female chef, renowned best-selling author and TV presenter Rachel Khoo, KETTLE® is proud to launch The KETTLE® Khoo Academy. Discover how people seeking a career in gourmet food can apply for a chance to be part of a six month mentoring programme & receive up to £4,000 in monetary support to help overcome key obstacles in career development in the industry, such as training fees, childcare costs and lack of income for cooking equipment.

KETTLE® Khoo Academy Launch 

We recognise the disparity between men and women in UK kitchens, with women contributing to only 18.5%* of chefs in the UK and KETTLE® Chips are keen to help redress this balance.  However, all applications to join the KETTLE® Khoo Academy will be treated equally.

The KETTLE® Khoo Academy will provide mentoring for five people outside of the kitchen, with various skill building modules to aid business set up, marketing and PR skills such as a ‘Feeding your creativity’ with chef Rachel Khoo and ‘Finding your Voice’ from KETTLE® Chips.

As part of the initiative, five selected people will each receive up to £4,000 in monetary support to help overcome key obstacles in career development in the industry, such as training fees, childcare costs and lack of income for cooking equipment.  All flavour loving individuals can apply from  3 September 2024 at 00:01 hours  until 27 September 2024 at 23:59 hours.

Speaking on the KETTLE® Khoo Academy, Rachel Khoo says, “When I first started working in the food industry, I found it intimidating because I was the only woman. We’ve seen a small increase of women in the kitchen since my early days but there’s not nearly enough as there should be. The KETTLE® Khoo Academy has been created to empower and equip aspiring food entrepreneurs with the essential skills they need to run a successful restaurant or gourmet food business – I’d encourage any food-loving females to apply. ”

How can you apply for this opportunity?

The aim of The KETTLE® Khoo Academy is to create more opportunities in the food industry from professional kitchens and restaurants to small businesses.

Entrants must share a post and tag @kettlechipsuk on Instagram, @KETTLEChipsUK on Facebook or @KETTLEChipsUK on X and explain why they would like to be part of the KETTLE® Khoo Academy, sharing what new gourmet seasoning they would create for KETTLE® Chips. Along with a summary of their current cooking experience and a link to their social media post they should email this to apply@kettlekhooacademy.com.

Please see significant conditions here and full T&C’s apply, see kettlechips.co.uk.

The 5 main prize winners selected by a judging panel (see below) as having submitted the most interesting, creative & compelling entries will each win: access to a mentoring programme and a bursary fund up to a maximum of £4000 to be spent between 21/10/24 and 31/03/25 to assist them to further their career in the food industry.

There are 20 runner-up prize winners who will each receive a copy of The Little Paris Kitchen book written and signed by Rachel Khoo.

At Women in the Food Industry we are delighted to be assisting with this initiative and co-founder Mex Ibrahim said, “One of the reasons we set up Women In The Food Industry was to try to address the balance of power in the food industry. It was to shine a spotlight on the amazing things that women are doing to help the economy, the reputation and quality of UK food and most importantly, what women are doing to nurture and grow other people and therefore business. It was to get women seen as an inspiration to others.”

Key Dates

27th September 2024 – Applications Close

21st October 2024  – Mentoring Programme Launches

31st March 2025 – Mentoring Programme Ends

Following the selection of the 5 people, the mentoring programme will launch on 21 October 2024 and run until 31 March 2025 with each person receiving support with brand building, social media and PR skills, accounting and creativity sessions through a comprehensive virtual workshop process for mentees, each month delving into a different theme.

Don’t forget the application deadline is Friday 27 September at 23:59. 

Have a question about KETTLE Khoo Academy? Email the team at apply@kettlekhooacademy.com

*Data taken from Sally Abé’s, A Woman’s Place Is In The Kitchen, published June 2024.