Home Food & Drink Booming Redcar restaurant expands capacity with young recruit

Booming Redcar restaurant expands capacity with young recruit

Chef’s Table Head Chef Alex Bunn (right) pictured with new chef Adam Grainger (left) who was helped into his new role through the New Directions programme.

Fledgling restaurant, The Chef’s Table, has become the latest local business to recognise young, local talent.

22-year old Guisborough resident, Adam Grainger who completed his Level 2 professional cookery qualification at Middlesbrough College, has been recruited to support the popular Redcar restaurant.

Johanna Watts, Employer Engagement Officer at Beyond Housing, contacted Alex Bunn, head chef at The Chef’s Table, about New Directions’ work to support the hospitality sector by providing training courses for young people to gain the skills required for working in hospitality. Although at the time, The Chef’s Table was newly opened and did not need additional staff, its growing popularity soon led Alex back to New Directions.

Johanna matched Adam to the role, who was really keen to get experience in a restaurant kitchen working with fresh ingredients, but lacked confidence. After Alex and Adam met, it was agreed Adam would complete a one week work trial, to allow them both to get a feel for the role before making a permanent decision.


To support Adam through his trial, New Directions provided him with a fresh set of chef’s whites and his travel costs for the week. After just two shifts, Adam was offered the position at The Chef’s Table on a permanent basis.

Beyond Housing’s New Directions programme supports people aged 15 to 29 who are not in education, employment or training with specialist support, information advice and guidance, training, mentoring, apprenticeships, job placements and further education to help these young people meet the needs of local employers. It has a proven track record of matching jobseekers to the needs of a business.

Adam said: “I’m so pleased to have been matched to this role at The Chef’s Table. I’m looking forward to the future and a career in catering.
“New Directions was so helpful in allowing me to follow my dreams. I’d recommend anyone getting in touch with them.”

Alex said: “Everyone needs to start somewhere. I’m happy to take Adam under my wing and help him get some great experience.”

Johanna Watts, Employer Engagement Officer at Beyond Housing said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Adam and Alex.
“Starting work at The Chef’s Table was the confidence boost Adam needed. He is like a new person, his shy demeanour has gone and when I visited him at work he couldn’t stop smiling.”