In New York, launched free courses for those wishing to engage in the restaurant business

New York City Small Business Administration (SBS) Commissioner Gregg Bishop has announced the launch of First Course NYC, giving city residents free culinary training and free line cook jobs at New York City's leading restaurants.

By collaborating with more than 24 000 restaurants throughout the city, SBS is meeting the growing demand for skilled kitchen workers and expanding opportunities for New Yorkers who can start a career in the culinary industry, according to a press release New York Department of Small Business.

“The New York City restaurant industry is vital to the local economy,” said Gregg Bishop. "Providing residents with the skills they need to succeed in an ever-changing food space gives them the opportunity to grow and thrive in the future."

The 14 weekly program provides culinary knowledge, technical skills, on-the-job training and valuable industry knowledge. The first 8 weeks of training will take place in the kitchen with the participation of chef David Walthack. Students will learn the basic skills necessary to become an entry-level professional chef. Classes will be held at the Center for the Food Arts, a modern educational complex in downtown Manhattan.

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The remaining 6 weeks of the program include on-the-job training at renowned New York City restaurants. Participants will receive a weekly stipend of $ 125 for the first 8 weeks, and then they will be hired by a restaurant - as a workplace apprentice, the student will receive $ 16 per hour for 6 weeks of training. Qualified apprentices who successfully complete their training are expected to continue working with their employer as permanent entry-level line chefs.

Program participants will be assisted by human resources specialists. A training seminar will be held for restaurant partners so that course participants can get the best practices from them, discover talents and increase the retention rate of new employees.

Before applying, be sure to participate in the program information session. Session time and place:

Brooklyn Workforce1 Career Center: 9 Bond St, 5th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201

October 1: 10: 00 - 11: 30
October 4: 13: 00 - 14: 30
October 8: 15: 00 - 16: 30
October 11: 10: 00 - 11: 30
October 15: 9: 00 - 10: 30
October 18: 13: 00 - 14: 30

Upper Manhattan Workforce1 Career Center: 215 W 125th St, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10027

30 September: 9: 00 - 10: 30
30 September: 15: 00 - 16: 00
October 7: 9: 00 - 10: 30
October 7: 15: 00 - 16: 30
October 21: 9: 00 - 10: 30
October 21: 15: 00 - 16: 30

“Restaurants are the few businesses that cannot be outsourced,” said Manhattan bureau president Gail Brewer. “With these cooking courses, SBS is opening up a career path for young New Yorkers. I encourage everyone to learn more in the information sessions starting this week. "

“I emigrated to New York because it is the largest food city in the world, but today it faces the loss of that title,” said Amanda Cohen, chef and owner of Dirt Candy, who partnered with the course. - With the help of First Course, for the first time, the city itself is solving the problem of labor shortages in the food industry. New York gave me everything, and now it helps save my favorite industry. I'm thrilled to be able to thank the city for this, rekindle a passion for cooking in students and give them a sense of why the New York City food industry matters. ”

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“While there is a huge need for qualified chefs in New York, most cooking programs are financially out of reach for many qualified and motivated candidates,” said Chef David Waltack, who teaches the class. - I am very pleased to participate in First Course NYC. I look forward to sharing my knowledge and experience and helping these students start culinary careers. "

For more information or to register for an information session, visit nyc.gov/firstcourse or type 311 and ask for “First Course NYC.”