THE Junior Chefs' Academy (JCA) is celebrating during this year's British Food Fortnight, which runs until October 8, after Alex Hayden became the 1,200th pupil to graduate from the scheme.

Alex, 16, from Hillingdon, has been so stirred up by the course that he has just signed up for a two-year Chef and Restaurant Certificate at Thames Valley University.

He has just finished a Skills for Working Life course at Uxbridge College, while studying for his GCSEs at Douay Martyrs School in Ickenham.

During this time he spent Saturday mornings at TVU completing a JCA course. The sessions inspired Alex to continue in his hospitality and catering career and as a result he signed up for the two-year course, with a further year option to turn the qualification into a diploma.

Alex said: "I enjoyed the course at Uxbridge and found out about the JCA sessions on a Saturday morning.

"I loved the whole thing, I learned many new things on the JCA course, such as food hygiene, nutrition, diet and knife maintenance.

"My Grand-dad was a chef in the Navy, so I've always been interested in cooking but the JCA really ignited that passion and I can't wait for my new course to start. I'd recommend the JCA to anyone, I think it's brilliant and my ambition is definitely now to be a chef."

The JCA has become an integral part of Compass UK's training and development programme, providing many young people with an introduction to the hospitality industry at the very earliest point.

The course takes place on Saturday mornings at further education colleges around the country and provides students, aged 12-16 years, with a basic grounding in food preparation and cooking.

Chefs from the colleges pass on their knowledge and wisdom and prove that cookery can provide a firm platform for any career within the hospitality industry.

Celebrity chefs such as Brian Turner, Jean Christophe-Novelli, Cyrus Todiwala and Ainsley Harriott and many others from the Craft Guild of Chefs are on hand at the graduations, offering expert advice in the kitchen and award certificates to the hard-working young cooks.

Trevor Nelson, food service training development manager, said: "This is a real landmark for the Junior Chefs' Academy, and one that everyone involved should be proud of.

"The course has been going from strength to strength over the years and we are anticipating that 2,000 youngsters will have graduated by the end of 2007.

"Compass is committed to promoting healthy eating and cooking amongst young people and it's a credit to the college tutors to see so many pupils continuing their cooking education though NVQs and other further education courses."

The JCA was initially set up in conjunction with TVU in 2003. The colleges provide facilities free of charge as Compass funds the scheme, covering teaching and technician fees, uniforms and laundry, marketing and administration costs. Students pay just £5 per week to cover food costs and in return learn basic cookery, nutrition, hygiene and health and safety.