MOTHER and daughter duo, Janis and Julia Bailey have not only taken on the local business world, but have now decided to sharpen their culinary skills.
They have enrolled at South Eastern Regional College (SERC) by training on a Professional Cookery course in order to help take their business to the next level.
The duo run their family farm shop and catering business Pheasants Hill Farm Kitchen and Ivy Catering in Downpatrick, along with dad Alan. The business also caters for wedding parties and provides a unique experience, while serving up the families own free range hog meat.
Daughter Julia is no stranger to study with a degree in International Management and she has just finished her Masters Degree in Business and plans to use her new found skills as a trained professional chef to help the wedding catering business develop.
The mother and daughter duo enrolled onto the NVQ Level 2 Certificate in Professional Cookery last September and now plan to progress to Level 3. Julia said: “It’s great fun and is certainly challenging, and I have really enjoyed meeting new people. Some weeks it’s hard to get motivated but mum keeps me going. I think we keep each other on our toes.”
“It’s really good that we are studying the course together.” Julia said. “I’ve always looked up to my mum. She is a real inspiration. Some people would be embarrassed to be in the same class as their parent but I think it is great. We have now both enrolled on the Level 3 course which is another one year and we are really looking forward to it. I have also enrolled on a Level 3 course in Patisserie and Confectionery, which will add to my skills in producing delicious wedding desserts and wedding cakes.”
Lecturer Michelle McCarthy who teaches the Bailey duo, said: “I was delighted about having the pair in my class to complete their qualification. It has been really fun having them in the class and the team spirit in the kitchen has been great.
“They build up each other’s moral and complement each other’s skills! So hopefully this is just the start of more families coming to SERC!”
SERC offer a range of full and part-time professional cookery, catering and hospitality courses. For more information please visit our website at www.serc.ac.uk or call 0845 600 7555.
