After moving to the UK from Ukraine, Anna Mezhuieva found her passion for food growing in a place she didn’t expect – a nursery kitchen. Anna had already been working as a Kitchen Assistant at a nursery in Lee Mill for over two years when her chef encouraged her to take the next step and enrol on the Production Chef Apprenticeship at City College Plymouth.
“I’d never done anything like this before,” Anna explains. “But my chef suggested the Apprenticeship, so I decided to give it a try.”
Balancing full-time work with college life, Anna spends most of her week in the nursery preparing lunches for children, cooking and baking alongside the chef. One day a week, she attends college, where she takes part in both practical kitchen sessions and theory classes.
“What I enjoy most is how the course is structured,” she says. “Everything is designed to make practical training comfortable, and the theory is explained clearly and concisely. Studying on a laptop also makes learning much more enjoyable.”
Anna applies what she learns straight away in the workplace, from food safety knowledge to new recipes she now cooks for the children at the nursery. One highlight was preparing Borsht – a traditional Ukrainian soup – during a workplace observation, something she says made her feel proud to share her culture through food.
Throughout her Apprenticeship, Anna has felt fully supported by her lecturers. “Since English isn’t my first language, I really appreciate how understanding and supportive the staff are,” she explains. “My lecturer Andrea has been amazing – not just as a lecturer, but as a person.”
That support, combined with Anna’s dedication and hard work, led to a huge milestone: she was nominated and chosen as the winner of the Intermediate Hospitality & Catering Apprentice of the Year 2026.
“It was a big achievement for me,” Anna says. “Studying has helped me feel much more confident at work and take on more responsibility.”
Looking ahead, Anna isn’t rushing her next steps – but she does have a dream. “My partner and I would love to open a small bakery and coffee shop one day,” she shares.
For anyone considering a Hospitality and Catering Apprenticeship, Anna’s advice is simple and honest: “Don’t be late, attend all your classes, and be responsible with your work. If you put the effort in, it’s really worth it.”
