After getting through their regional heats, Pembrokeshire College catering students Gwendolyn Wheeler and Sam Everton are getting set to compete against the best trainee chefs from across the UK as part of the WorldSkills UK competition to be held at the NEC during November.

Professional Catering student Gwendolyn Wheeler completed the Level 3 course at the college in June and has just returned from a 12-week work placement with Michelin-starred restaurant Loam in Galway, Ireland. With a passion for patisserie, Gwendolyn worked alongside Enda McEvoy, the owner of Loam and the Irish Restaurant Awards ‘Best Chef in Ireland’ in 2016.

Returning from her placement, Gwendolyn commented: “I have learnt a lot of new stuff and really enjoyed being in Ireland. The chefs I worked with were really helpful and patient. This is definitely the career for me.”

Gwendolyn can now be found working full-time at The Grove in Narberth.

Meanwhile, Sam Everton proved his culinary excellence after picking up Gold in the prestigious Advanced Professional Cookery competition aimed at Level 3 students despite being on a Level 2 course at the time.

Having now progressed to the Level 3 Professional Cookery course, Sam is looking forward to competing again and testing his skills against the best trainee chefs in the UK.

College lecturer Rose Butler commented: “We are thrilled to have two students competing in this year’s WorldSkills UK competitions. With Gwendolyn competing in Confectionery and Sam competing in Culinary Arts/Cooking we are hopeful that they will bring a medal back to Pembrokeshire.”

To find out more about catering courses available at Pembrokeshire College go to: www.pembrokeshire.ac.uk