New Feature Rising Star: Sergejs Ivanovs

Every month here on BigHospitality we`ll be bringing you an insight into the hottest catering and hospitality talent of the future in our Rising Stars section. Students tell us about their inspirations and aspirations as they prepare for a career in the industry.

Name:​ Sergejs Ivanovs

Age:​ 26

Course title and college:​ Culinary Arts Foundation Degree, Cornwall College

When will you be graduating?:​ Summer 2009

What is your background?:​ I come from Latvia where the hospitality industry isn’t very big, but I really wanted to work in the industry. There are more hotels in the UK, so I came over in 2003 to get some work experience here. My English wasn’t so good, so I had to take a course in that and I started work in a kitchen as a Commis Chef. I have been combining work with my studies. I now work as Second Chef at the Beresford Hotel in Newquay while doing my course.

What do you class as your biggest achievements so far?:​ I got a distinction in my last Culinary Arts exam, which I was really pleased about, but I have just found out that I have been chosen as the Foundation Degree First Year (Hospitality) Student of the Year 2007/2008. I`ll be given my award on June 24 at the St Michael`s Hotel in Falmouth.

Where would you most like to work when you graduate?:​ I’d like to stay in Cornwall. I don’t want to go to London, although it has more opportunity. I’d like to get some more cooking experience at a big hotel in Cornwall, but ultimately I would love to run my own business – a B&B or a guest house rather than a restaurant, because I think it is difficult to open a restaurant in Cornwall. It is busy in the summer, but not so busy in the winter so it is hard to find enough customers all year round.

Who do you most admire in the hospitality industry and why?:​ Jamie Oliver for setting up his Fifteen restaurant. He’s spent a lot of money helping people get into work, especially those with a bad start in life. I also admire his campaigning work with food, such as his School Dinners campaign. He’s done a lot and he’s still quite young.

What are you looking forward to most when you graduate and start work?​: I have already been working while I do my studies, but I am looking forward to getting more experience elsewhere. The course I am doing at Cornwall is really good, because it teaches you how to run a business, not just how to succeed in hospitality, which I think is important. I’ve got a lot of ideas for my own business and I’d like to put them into practice.

What do you think will be the biggest challenges you will face in your career in the hospitality industry?​: I think it would be hard to work for a chef who has made his name, because they already have a reputation and if you work for them you have to help keep that.

Do you know any Rising Stars?†If you are tutor on a hospitality and catering course and would like to put forward a student or if you are a student and want to tell us about your future plans email us at arjf@ovtubfcvgnyvgl.pb.hx​​