Mount Pleasant Inn

Dawlish Warren

Malcolm Protheroe

Take one girl, add a generous helping of enthusiasm and a day a week at college, and you have the recipe for the perfect apprenticeship.

That’s what Malcolm Protheroe discovered when the shy girl he took on in the kitchen of the Mount Pleasant Inn in Dawlish Warren ended up as Student of the Year at Exeter College – and she’s been bringing nothing but credit to the business ever since.

Leanne Powell, 20, who was doing an Advanced Apprenticeship in Professional Cookery, won the admiration of her colleagues and astonished herself by winning Silver and Bronze Medals at the 2010 World Skills competitions in Bournemouth.  

“Two years ago she would never have gone in for a competition on her own or even gone to Bournemouth for a couple of days,” says Mr Protheroe. “That’s how much confidence she has in herself now as a result of her apprenticeship at Exeter College.

“She believes in herself and knows she can do things. She’s responsible for a section, can work in any section of the kitchen, and is even training other students. You can leave her in charge and not worry about it.”

He’s still tickled pink about her wins at Bournemouth.

“We worked with her in our kitchens and encouraged her to go in for it. And all the chefs at Exeter College were very supportive of her.

“She’s a very quiet, reserved woman who lets her actions do the talking. It’s fantastic the way she conducts herself. The college are very proud of her and so are we.”

He takes his responsibilities as an employer seriously – and is reaping the benefits.

“This is a seasonal business, but we gave Leanne a guarantee before she started that if she worked hard through the Summer we would give her an apprenticeship and send her to college,” he says.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have four people with me including my head chef and Leanne who have all done apprenticeships. They’ve all come out the other end quite shiny!

“Apprentices bring a fresh approach to a business. They have good and different ideas. Training someone from the start in the way you want them to work means you don’t have to retrain someone who comes to work for you.

“The apprenticeship is a good model for students to find out how an industry works. Leanne has been great for us.

“I take my hat off to Exeter College because they have driven these people forward. We’re hoping to give her another course next year. We’re both lucky.”

Leanne herself is more than willing to recommend apprenticeships to other young people.

“You learn more being in an apprenticeship than you would working full-time,” she says. “I used to be really shy – but not any more! I can just get on with things without worrying about it.

“And I was shocked about winning the medals at Bournemouth because I only went for the experience!”

Exeter College