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When restaurants were forced to close for large periods of time during the coronavirus lockdowns, many chefs left the industry.

But the catering department at Ystrad Mynach’s Coleg y Cymoedd campus are hoping to fill the gap they left by training more budding young chefs.

As part of a £3.6m refurbishment of the college’s catering and sports block, three industry-standard kitchens have been fitted, while the college’s student-run restaurant, Scholars, has also had a facelift.

Catering lecturer Neil Emery said: “The industry has been screaming out for chefs. Since Covid, there’s been a massive void that needs to be filled – and we’re the ones producing them.”

The campus currently has around 60 catering students, but Mr Emery is hopeful the refurb will allow them to take on a larger number of students going forward.

It is hoped the refurb will allow the college to offer more catering courses too.

Catering student Josh Hutton, 19, said the refurb will give him and fellow students a chance to use more equipment and boost their experience as they head into the industry – with catering technician Sarah Deacon stressing the importance of “moving with the times” and embracing new technology.

Mr Emery added: “Everything we cook is fresh. We could send the students out into five star restaurants with what they’re learning here.

“We also encourage our chefs to go out and speak to the customers for feedback.”

The new kitchen has an open window for the customers to see into – something Mr Emery says gives it a more professional feel and helps the students learn how to work under pressure.

There’s also an emphasis on sourcing local produce – with herbs grown onsite by students with special educational needs.

Tracey Evans, Head of School for the Catering and Hair and Beauty departments, said the college wants to do more in the community.

Ms Evans said: “We’re providing a wide range of experience for future employment. The students are learning and having fun at the same time – you can see the love for what they’re doing.”

Lecturer Ben Barnett, who is a former student at the college, said: “Seeing them grow and learn to work independently is special to me. “We try to have fun with it. This industry is demanding – it’s physically tough. We don’t want the learners leaving drained, we want them to feel enthused and go on to amazing things.

“If cooking is your passion, it’s the most rewarding job in the world.”

The college held a taster day on March 3 to celebrate the refurbishment and to showcase the work produced by the students.

Among the attendees were former Coleg y Cymoedd students Michael Coogan and Andrew Minto – the winners of Bake Off: The Professionals in 2021 – as well as Caerphilly Town Mayor Mike Prew.

The college has also been nominated in the Cookery School of the Year category at the 2022 Food Awards Wales.

Course tutor Stuart Davies said: “We’re excited about the future. Our staff have industry experience and offer very industry-focused training.

“You can see how proud the learners are of their work. After two years of Covid, they’re now getting the opportunity to boost their social skills and build their confidence again.

“We’re putting them out of their comfort zone but within a safe environment.”

An official reopening of the Scholars restaurant is set to be held at a later date.