Teenager Hayley Smith is using a catering apprenticeship to help her achieve a childhood dream.
The 17-year-old is completing a Level 2 catering apprenticeship and is well on her way to becoming a professional chef.
Hayley combines her shifts in the busy Michelin- star kitchens of The Bath Priory hotel with her studies at City of Bath College and is already making a name for herself.
She was the youngest competitor in this year's Chef v Chef competition, where she had two-and-a-half hours to impress a panel of celebrity judges.
Hayley said: "It's amazing to work at such a top hotel. I am treated as a commis chef, not as a trainee.
"The on-the-job experience I'm getting is amazing, and I'm also working hard at college to get the grades.
"I've always wanted to be a chef and being an apprentice is definitely the best way to achieve my goal. I'm earning a wage while getting a qualification."
Hayley, whose dad is a chef, said it has been her aim to follow in his footsteps since the age of about six.
The City of Bath College has a wide range of apprenticeships on offer, including business administration, carpentry, information technology, hairdressing and plumbing.
For more information contact Stacey Harper, its customer relationship manager, on 01225 328729 or email harpers@citybath coll.ac.uk.
Meanwhile, Bath apprentices and businesses have just 24 hours left to enter this year's Bath Chronicle's Apprenticeship Awards, supported by headline sponsors Hit Training.
There are 12 categories up for grabs including Employer of the Year, Apprenticeship Development Award, Bath Apprenticeship Training Provider of the Year, five Outstanding Apprentice of the Year awards covering different sectors, and Bath Apprentice of the Year.
The latest sponsor is Norton Radstock College.
The winners for the Apprenticeship Awards 2013 will be announced at a gala awards evening to be held at Bath Racecourse on July 4.
The awards will be presented by Business West director for Bath, Ian Bell, who will be joined by guest speaker BBC Apprentice finalist, Claire Young.
To enter the awards go to www.thisisbath.co.uk/ apprenticeshipawards.
The deadline for entries is tomorrow.
For updates on the awards follow #BathApprenticeAwards on Twitter.
