Apprentice joins caterer for asparagus tips

An independent catering business will be getting an extra pair of hands thanks to Manufactured Yorkshire and Kirklees College.

With a start-up workforce of ten employees, Anthony Hegney of Asparagus Green won the National Coal Mining Museum contract to providing varied and healthy menu options for families at competitive prices  in February, and has now taken on apprentice Brydie Binns.

The first six months of Brydie’s placement will be funded by Manufactured Yorkshire (MY15) after Anthony won the prize draw at the event at the John Smiths Stadium, Huddersfield in June this year. Kirklees College was one of the main sponsors of MY15 and everyone who visited the college’s stand at the event had the chance to enter the draw.

MY15 Event Director, Chrissie Slater said, "Brydie's role will be really wide - from working in the office to pulling events together to helping Anthony develop the Conferences & Events side of the museum's catering operation. As well as funding her first 6 months placement, the events team behind Manufactured Yorkshire have pledged mentoring support to Brydie to help her on the conferences and events planning. Every business, large or small, has a responsibility to give our young people a leg-up. This is one of the legacies of Manufactured Yorkshire."

Anthony is on a mission, putting his 25 years experience in the catering industry behind Asparagus Green. He states, "The future for Asparagus Green is to maintain the contract at the museum whilst focusing on growing the outside catering business. We cater for special occasions in the home right up to special venues and by 2016 I would like to take on another small contract in the area. Brydie has been looking for an apprenticeship and this is a great opportunity for her to grow with Asparagus Green and learn a great deal along the way. I'm so pleased that we have Brydie on board, she is an excellent addition to the team."

Kirklees College deputy principal June Durrant said: “We are really delighted to announce the winning company from the apprenticeship competition at Manufactured Yorkshire, congratulations to Anthony Hegney, owner of Asparagus Green Catering and Bridey Binns his new apprentice. Apprenticeships are such a valuable asset to a business and the local economy and a great way to ‘earn and learn’.