TARA Hooper has no regrets about swapping the classroom for the kitchen.
The apprentice chef was working as a drama teacher in London when she decided to relocate to Warwickshire to pursue her dream career as a chef by training at Stratford College.
And she has just been named the college’s Apprentice of the Year.
Tara, who is now working as an apprentice chef at The Fuzzy Duck pub in Armscote, said: “I’ve always enjoyed cooking and baking.
“Nearly three years ago I realised that I wasn’t enjoying my job and I started to think about transferring to a new sector.”
Tara’s plans were put in jeopardy when the pub at which she started her apprenticeship was sold, but The Fuzzy Duck came to the rescue and took her on.
And her boss at The Fuzzy Duck could not be happier with her commitment and progress.
Head chef Ben Tynan said: “She’s really developed her skills across the board, especially her organisation and time management. She got to grips with the standards we expect at The Fuzzy Duck very quickly which was obviously great to see.”
Having completed her apprenticeship, Tara next plans to study an Advanced Apprenticeship, furthering her expertise and employability, while ultimately aiming to one day own her own café, specialising in handcrafted cakes and patisserie.
But for now, Tara, delighted her long hours and hard work have been recognised by the award, is thoroughly enjoying her time at The Fuzzy Duck.
“I just enjoy being able to make a living from my passion – not a lot of people can say that.”
