You're fried: Now you can get an apprenticeship in fish and chips

Tasos Pattichis, owner of the Olympus restaurant and chip shop, is now hoping to add a further six apprentices to the team at his Great Moor Street site.

The drive comes at the same time that National Apprenticeship Week celebrates the impact of young trainees at firms across the country.

The entrepreneur said he wants to offer his new staff on the job training in every aspect of the restaurant and take away — and hopes to inspire them towards a bright future.

He said: “By getting young apprentices involved I can offer them training that they would possibly not be given elsewhere.

“I think an apprenticeship at Olympus will stand any student in good stead for a future career.

Under the scheme, each apprentice will learn skills in different areas of the business, including kitchen work, customer service, frying the food and making it look presentable on a plate.

The company is also arranging a link with training firm Aspire, which will meet with each apprentice on a monthly basis to help them through their NVQ training.

It is hoped that some of the young trainees could go on to hold down full-time jobs at the popular town centre venue.

Mr Pattichis added: “The apprentices we have on board at the moment are all working to a very high standard and we feel that, wherever their career path eventually leads them, the training and support they have gained whilst with us will cast them in a very good light for the future.”

Apprentice Keith Yates, aged 25, said: “The apprenticeship is a great way to learn new skills and gain a qualification, plus on the job experience.

“I’m learning key skills in the business environment from accounts, events management, marketing and communications which gives me a variety of work and broadens my knowledge.”

Fellow apprentice Shauna Morgan, aged 21, added: “The apprenticeship scheme here is great for me.

“I love learning a new trade and skills within a really great environment.”