Barchester Healthcare’s National Chef Academy has been transforming care home dining - training and upskilling hundreds of chefs across 260 care homes and serving over a million meals every week.

At its heart is Mervyn Knights. Once a kitchen assistant at Barchester’s Queens Court Care Home in Wimbledon, he now leads the Academy, blending Michelin-inspired precision with a mission to train the next generation of care home chefs and redefine culinary careers across the UK.

A Journey from Kitchen Assistant to Chef Academy Leader

When Mervyn walked into Queens Court in 2002, he never imagined he’d one day head a national chef training programme. Over two decades, he rose through the ranks - winning Barchester’s Chef of the Year before taking charge of the Barchester’s National Chef Academy - in the role of Hospitality Commissioning and Academy Manager - which now delivers 50 workshops annually across five divisions.

Michelin-Star Training Inspiring Barchester Chefs

A turning point came when Mervyn swapped the care home kitchen for a week at Raymond Blanc’s two-Michelin-starred Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons.

“I wanted to see first-hand how the very best do it - the precision, the discipline, the creativity,” Mervyn recalls. “Each day I was in a different section: sauces, pastries, prep, the service line. It was a complete education.”

Back at Barchester, those lessons have shaped the Academy’s training - precision plating, teamwork, and the art of presentation now sit alongside nutrition and menu planning at the heart of the curriculum.

“People eat with their eyes first - presentation matters just as much as flavour,” says Mervyn.

Building Careers - Not Just Jobs

Today, the Academy trains chefs from entry-level to head chef with clear progression pathways, apprenticeships, and the chance to compete in nationwide Chef competitions across the Barchester group.

“Barchester is committed to investing in the next generation of chefs,” Mervyn explains. “We want them to leave with skills, confidence, and a sense of achievement- knowing they’re making a difference in the lives of others.”

For chefs used to late nights and split shifts, the training in the Academy and cheffing in care offers predictable hours and the opportunity to build a long-term career with purpose.

Meeting Workforce Challenges Head-On

Chef vacancies are at a decade high, and the removal of chefs from the Skilled Worker Visa list in July 2025 has intensified the industry’s challenges. With nearly one in four Britons expected to be over 65 by 2040*, the Academy is developing homegrown talent to meet the rising demand for quality care home dining.

Food at the Heart of Care

At Barchester, food means more than nutrition - it means community and celebration. Academy-trained chefs create everything from high-protein meal plans to birthday teas, themed events, and Sunday roasts that bring residents and families together.

“Our residents love traditional dishes - roast dinners, fish and chips, afternoon teas. Families join in for birthdays and celebrations. It brings people together,” says Mervyn.

At a time when chef shortages are biting, Barchester is proving care home kitchens can offer meaningful, future-proof careers - combining restaurant-quality skills with the warmth of care.

Be part of Barchester Chef Academy

Barchester is recruiting now for chefs at all levels, offering training, career progression, and the chance to carve out a fulfilling career: jobs.barchester.com

#CareersWithPurpose

-End-

For Interviews please contact Sarah Anderson, crooton media team on 07734716568, sarah@crooton.com to coordinate activity

Pull Quotes

“I wanted to see first-hand how the very best do it — the precision, the discipline, the creativity.”

“People eat with their eyes first — presentation matters just as much as flavour.”

“Barchester is committed to investing in the next generation of chefs.”

“We want them to leave with skills, confidence, and a sense of achievement — knowing they’re making a difference in the lives of others.”

“Our residents love traditional dishes — roast dinners, fish and chips, afternoon teas. Families join in for birthdays and celebrations. It brings people together.”

“At a time when chef shortages are biting, Barchester is proving care home kitchens can offer meaningful, future-proof careers.”

Information About Barchester Chef Academy:

Launched: The academy was launched in 2022

Purpose: To give care home chefs professional training in cooking, leadership, nutrition, and hospitality skills.

Career Pathways: Supports chefs at every level - from kitchen assistants to head chefs - with clear routes for progression and further qualifications.

Annual Workshops: Runs 50 workshops a year across five Barchester divisions.

Training Locations: Edinburgh, Birmingham, Kingston upon Thames, & Slough.

Curriculum Includes: Classical cookery skills (soups, sauces, desserts), Leadership and team management, Menu planning and budgeting, Nutrition and specialist diets,Presentation and flavour techniques inspired by Michelin-star kitchens

Scale: 260+ care homes serving up to a million meals a week

Data Sources: ONS

*https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparencyandgovernance/freedomofinformationfoi/populationprojections2020to2040forages65to84andage85plus?utm_source=chatgpt.com

For interviews or more information, please contact:

For Interviews please contact Sarah Anderson, crooton media team on 07734716568, sarah@crooton.com to coordinate activity.

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