A CATERING apprentice has overcome his hearing loss in a bid to become a top chef.
Darlington College student Daniel Duke has whipped up a storm in the kitchen after passing the first stage of his apprenticeship and securing a full time job at Roots Farmshop and Café in North Yorkshire.
Daniel, 21, who was diagnosed with hearing loss, age four, has refused to let this stand in the way of a career in the catering industry.
“My mam thought there was something wrong with my hearing when I was born,” said Daniel, of West Rounton, near Northallerton.
“The doctors said everything was fine but when I started school the teachers noticed that there was something wrong.
“I was referred to an audiologist who said that I needed hearing aids in both ears and since then it hasn’t given me too many problems.”
Initially taking up a computing course at Darlington College Daniel soon realised that it was catering where his passions lay.
“I’d always enjoyed cooking and helping my mam at home in the kitchen but I never thought of it as a career,” said Daniel.
“I wasn’t happy studying IT and after seeing the catering facilities at the college I decided to try my hand at cooking and I really liked it.”
After completing his level 2 apprenticeship Daniel has now progressed onto advanced level kitchen and larder, cooking dishes including game, poultry and shellfish and his part time job at Roots Farmshop and Café has turned into a full time career.
“I love working here but ultimately my main ambition would be to one day open my own restaurant,” he said.
Darlington College work based assessor Chris Mann commended the dedication Daniel had shown to his studies.
“Daniel started with us at college in January 2013 and since then has been a model student - he has shown great commitment and attitude.
Manager of Roots Farmshop and Café Katherine Brown added: “Since coming to us age 15 as a part time worker, Daniel is now one of our key cooks.
“We wanted him to continue his studies at college to enable him to gain further qualifications but also to bring new and fresh ideas to the workplace and he is now an integral part of our team.”
For more information on opportunities at Darlington College log on to www.darlington.ac.uk.
