A school leaver has secured a coveted place on an exclusive scholarship programme with an internationally renowned restaurant group.

In less than two months, sixteen year old Hasnain Shan has transitioned from high school food technology to culinary master classes at Michelin-starred Northcote.

After successfully completing a trial which tested his proficiency in the kitchen, Hasnain was officially welcomed into the Northcote family.

He said:“I’m very pleasantly surprised to be accepted onto the programme, after successfully completing the trial. I’m really looking forward to it, as it’s my dream to become a chef.”

The scholarship programme is the result of a partnership between Blackburn College and The Northcote Group – aiming to address the national chef shortage currently affecting the catering industry.

For Hasnain, it was the clear route for him after leaving school. He said: “I chose an Apprenticeship because I felt this type of learning would really get the best out of me.”

Following completion of the programme, Hasnain will be offered a permanent position in any one of Northcote’s chain of award-winning restaurants.

First signed in 2015, the exclusive partnership between Blackburn College and Northcote has resulted in twenty-one apprentice chefs enrolling on the Northcote Scholarship Programme, which is aimed at improving the skills and employability of students looking to enter the catering and hospitality industry.

Celebrity chef Nigel Haworth, Chef Patron at Northcote said: “We work with Blackburn College to help people’s development, from trainee chefs to mature students, which is a really fantastic opportunity.”

Though the opportunity is unlike anything Hasnain has done prior, it’s also a first for Northcote. The former pupil was proud to share the good news, saying, “It was a nice bonus to hear that I’m the first British Asian apprentice to enrol on the Northcote Scholarship Programme.