What's included in a Natives UK Chalet Cookery Course?

-- All tuition fees
-- 5 days tuition
-- 4 nights' accommodation* (single at St Teresa's, shared otherwise)
-- Continental breakfast
-- Mid-morning tea/coffee plus refreshments
-- Lunch, afternoon tea, dinner with wine
-- All ingredients for cooking
-- Tuition from experienced chalet staff and qualified teachers
-- CIEH Level 2 Award in food safety in catering (UK courses only, excluding the surf course)
-- Specialist sessions on Alpine specific issues
-- The Natives Chalet Cook Book
-- Natives Apron and T shirt
-- Diploma (if you pass!)
-- Job placement service

* Early arrival on Sunday night - To avoid traffic and an early Monday start, some of our students choose to arrive on Sunday evening. We have arranged a special rate of £30 for anyone choosing this additional night.

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How do I reserve my place?
To book your place please complete our booking form. You will then need to pay a deposit of £100 which will secure your place. The final balance will be due six weeks prior to your course.

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Who are the course tutors?
Each course will have two tutors for a maximum of 14 students (UK) or 10 students (Alpine). Tutors include:

Emma Tudor-Hughes has a BSc hons Hospitality Management with Business and has worked in the ski industry for 14 years as a chef and an instructor. She currently lives and works in Verbier Switzerland.

Chrissie Kimber has a background in the hospitality and commercial catering industry. She has extensive experience of working in the French Alps which has included running a chalet for three seasons and in recent seasons in other managment and customer service roles.

Wendy Chant started as a chalet host eight years ago, has run chalets on her own and also been a Resort Manager for Ski Beat (in La Plagne) and Kick Ski (in Vaujany). She loves living in the Alps and can't help encouraging her students to get jobs there too!

Jim Duncombe is a trained chef with lots of experience who has worked five seasons as a chef and host in various sized properties. He is now our recruitment manager.

Paul Sparkes has worked eight winter seasons in the French and Swiss Alps and has extensive experience in the hospitality and catering industry. He once named his snowboard the Spankinator. He loves doing winter seasons and can't wait to do another!

Tony Cave was previously Catering Manager at various department stores in London and is himself a graduate of the Natives Cookery Course. He has since gone on to work nine winter seasons  as a chalet host in La Plagne, France.

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Where do the courses take place?
The classroom is a slightly different format in each location, but all courses take place in a large well-equipped classroom with all facilities. Courses take place in four different location - three in the UK and one in France. You can check more details here.

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What size are the classes?
Groups are kept to a maximum of 14 (15 on our surf course, 10 on our Alpine Course) which means that you can gain the maximum benefit and take advantage of the personal attention on offer.

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What format do lessons take?
Teaching is of the highest standard; incorporating a combination of demonstrations, teamwork, an emphasis on the practical side, and real preparation for the challenges you'll face during the winter.

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Will taking the course help me find a job?
Our chalet cookery course has such a good reputation that nearly all successful cookery course candidates go on to find jobs in the industry. We provide a great service to get you on your way to ski employment.  Last year 96% of those who gained a grade C or above and were eligible to work in Europe went on to work in a ski resort. The tasks we do to help include:

- CV and interview advice
- Close partnership with the best ski companies
- Send your CV’s direct to leading tour operators
- Arrange interview during the course
- Dedicated recruitment team

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What is your cancellation policy?
If you have to drop out prior to full payment, you will only lose your £100 deposit. If you have to drop out for any reason after you have made full payment, we will try and re-sell your place for you. If we are successful, we will refund you 70% of any monies paid. If we are unable to find a replacement, we will be unable refund any of your course fee.

Natives reserve the right to cancel a course - if this happens we will try to place you on another course or if this is not possible refund you any monies paid in full. 

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What companies recruit staff from your courses?
Staff from our previous courses have gone on to work for such companies as Alpine Action, Alpine Infusion, Alpine Leisure Company, Alpine Navigations, Alp Shack, Alpine Pursuits, Altitude Holidays, BelVal, Belvedere Private Chalets, Bigfoot, Crystal, Finlays, First Choice, Hanski, Highlife, Inghams, Le Ski, Esprit, Extreme Chalets, Family Ski, First Choice, Flexiski, Flexible Breaks, Inside Edge, Le Ski, Les Gets Chalets, Meriski, Mountain Air Holidays, Mountain Exposure, Mountain Heaven, Mountain Highs, Mountain Retreats, Mrs Miggins, Neilson, Powderwhite, Reach 4 the Alps, Ride and Slide, Simply Morzine, Ski Activity, Ski Amis, Ski Armadillo, Ski Basics, Ski Beat, Ski Blanc, Ski Chardon Bleu, Ski Cuisine, Ski Dazzle, Ski Famille, Ski Magic, Ski Miquel, Ski Morgins, Ski Morzine, Ski out of the Blue, Ski Olympic, Ski Oui, Ski Peak, Ski Power, Ski with Julia, Ski Val, Skitopia, Skiworld, SnowChateaux, Snowfocus, Snowlife Chalet Holidays, Snowline VIP, Snowology, Stamford Skiing, Lotus Supertravel, The Family Ski Company, Total, Venture Ski, White Horizons, YSE and many private employers.

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What do our students say about our courses?
To read what a previous pupil thought read this report Olivia Pearson wrote for Tribe magazine

"Both Wendy and Tony were super teachers - they kept us interested in what we were learning and amused us with tales of the slopes throughout. The course was excellent to learn how and what to cook but also other aspects of chalet host life. It was also fantastic to meet other likeminded people - many of whom I am sure I will be in regulr contact with.." - pupil May 08

"As well as the obvious benefits it was useful that the course leaders were so experienced in running chalets and doing seasons. I would definitely recommend it to friends in the future." - pupil August 08

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