Apprentice of the Year Award Winner

Huge congratulations are in order for our Apprentice Commis Chef, Shafiur Rahman.

At Leicester College’s Annual Apprenticeship Awards, which took place on Thursday 6th February 2025 at the Freemen’s Campus, Shafiur, our Apprentice Commis Chef, won one of the highest accolades of the night, the Apprentice of the Year Award.

Winning the award, Shafiur said: “I felt happy that I’ve actually won and heard my name called. I didn’t think I would win. It was a proud moment.”

The winning night started at 6pm, where guests enjoyed a two course meal, prepared and cooked by College students studying within the Catering and Hospitality field.

To have won this award at the start of his career is a testament to all the hard work Shafiur put in during his apprenticeship, as well as studying Level 2 Hospitality and Catering at Leicester College.

From this, Shafiur is now a full-time Commis Chef within the University of Leicester Food and Drink community.

Ross Hearst, UoL Food and Drink Head Chef said: “Shafiur’s passion, enthusiasm and work ethic is what has got him to where he is. The team and myself are very proud of him. Conversations with his lecturers demonstrated his work needed to be recognised.”

He continued: “We were in need of more staff and with the support of HR, I interviewed for an Apprentice. Giving someone the opportunity to learn and develop is always something I encourage.”

When asked who inspires him personally, Shafiur said: “My mum! She strives to achieve the best at everything she does, so it’s only right if I try to become the best at what I do, following in her footsteps.”

With regards to professional inspiration, Shafiur said: “Chef Luke French is the chef that inspires me. He runs a restaurant called Jöro In Sheffield. He started as a Chef in a university, and now he runs a fine dining restaurant who I believe are pushing for a Michelin star. Starting in a University, shows that you can still achieve big goals, and it’s opened my eyes; if they can do it, why can’t I.”

Shafiur’s aspiration is to work in a Michelin star restaurant in Switzerland or Turkey, and then to one day own his own restaurant.

Well done and congratulations Shafiur, from all of us here at UoL Food and Drink.