13 Compass Chefs Move Forward with Marcus Wareing
Thirteen high-flying chefs have been selected to join the sixth cohort of Compass Group UK & Ireland鈥檚 award-winning 鈥楩orward with Marcus Wareing鈥 programme.
Cohort six will officially start the programme next month, with the first away day taking place at Ground Up Cookery School in Devon.
Guided by Marcus Wareing and delivered in partnership with national hospitality training provider, HIT Training, Forward with Marcus Wareing was designed and launched to support senior culinary talent. The apprenticeship equips Chefs with exceptional culinary skills with a focus on subjects including sustainability, commerciality, and people. It is brought to life through added-value enrichment activities and practical experiences.
The cohort also delivers social value, by committing to working with community groups and passing on culinary skills and knowledge. Previous participants mentor new cohorts, to support and share ideas and best practice.
Following its launch in August 2021, 86 senior chefs have enrolled on the Forward with Marcus Wareing programme. Cohorts 1-3 have now completed, and of the 47 chefs who began, Compass has an outstanding 81% retention rate and a 100% distinction rate among those completing their Senior Culinary Level 4 Apprenticeship. In addition, 51% of graduates have secured a promotion or moved into a new role within the Compass family.
The prestigious programme has earned widespread recognition, winning several high-profile awards. These include Best Training and Apprenticeship Programme at the 2025 Public Sector Catering Awards, Best Educational Programme at the Institute of Hospitality Awards 2024 and most recently, it has been shortlisted as a finalist at the Apprenticeship Training Awards 2026, which takes place in March.
Forward with Marcus Wareing forms part of Compass Group UK & Ireland鈥檚 six Signature Programmes 鈥 a key pillar of talent strategy enabling skills capability, retention, career progression, and measurable impact for our business and clients. 2025 also saw the launch of 鈥楩orward Service鈥, for Compass colleagues in senior front of house roles.
Marcus Wareing said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to believe we鈥檝e now had three cohorts graduate through the Forward programme 鈥 we really couldn鈥檛 have imagined the success it would have when we first launched it back in 2021. We designed it specifically to support senior culinary talent, and I鈥檓 always blown away by the passionate, enthusiastic and skilled chefs that join us for each session. I love working with the chefs on Forward 鈥 it鈥檚 great to get to know them and it鈥檚 always so rewarding to see each cohort develop and thrive. Cohort five is off to a great start, and I can鈥檛 wait to get moving with cohort six.鈥
Jonathan Foot, Director of Skills & Early Careers at Compass Group UK & Ireland said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e incredibly proud to see how successful this programme has become in the last four and a half years. We鈥檝e continued to build on the programme - adding in new workshops and enhancing the experience. The feedback that we get from the graduates is truly humbling; it鈥檚 clear to see the difference it makes to them both professionally and personally. We couldn鈥檛 ask for a better response.鈥
Holly Brown, Unit Manager, B&I and participant in Cohort 6 said: 鈥淚鈥檓 so proud to have been selected for the Forward programme. I was nominated for my passion for food and my drive for excellence on quality, so I鈥檓 excited to take on this new challenge and demonstrate that I was the right choice for cohort six. I鈥檓 keen to grow and enhance my skills to make me a better leader, and to empower future women in food.鈥
The full list of chefs selected to take part in cohort 6:
- Holly Brown 鈥 B&I
- Ben Draper 鈥 B&I
- David Green 鈥 CH&CO
- Oscar Hughes 鈥 Levy
- Mark Inwood 鈥 Chartwells
- Marcus Jefford 鈥 ESS
- Kamila Kuchnio 鈥 ESS
- Jonathan Loveday 鈥 Restaurant Associates
- Joshua Malone - ESS
- William May 鈥 Restaurant Associates
- Jack O'Keeffe 鈥 CH&CO
- Adrian Roj 鈥 ESS
- Salvatore Tassari 鈥 Levy
