Hall & Woodhouse Lead the Way with Speed Student Interviews

Hall & Woodhouse, known for its chain of public houses, gastro food experiences and brewery in Blandford, has joined forces with Bournemouth and Poole College to deliver Production Chef apprenticeships.

On Thursday, 1st May, Hall & Woodhouse and Bournemouth and Poole College organised an event for their Business Partners to explore our bespoke apprenticeship offer, some of the attendees included were from The Lord Nelson pub on Poole Quay and The Yachtsman in Hamworthy, who also engaged in a meet and greet students in what was dubbed ‘speed’ interview sessions in ten-minute intervals in the college's boardroom.

Approximately five students per table met with pub managers who sounded them out for a career as a chef. Many had already studied their first year at the college, with some also undertaking chef courses. In all, the 24 learners were invited interview, with a view to gaining either part or full-time work with Hall & Woodhouse business partners, and the opportunity to build their future careers. 

The programme started 12 months ago at Chichester College, was implemented in February at BPC and will roll out to Exeter College in September 2025 and Reading College in January 2026. College representatives in Poole have been working in collaboration with Chichester to ensure the Hall & Woodhouse programme has a standardised collaborative approach; this will continue with the other two newly onboarded colleges.

Julie O’Carroll, Director of Business Development and Partnerships, said: “There was some real talent in the room, and recruiters who attended will approach to employ directly, as a result of the speed interviews. I was delighted with how it went, as was Jill Meyerhoff, Head of Recruitment & Immigration at Hall & Woodhouse.”