A CHEF who has cooked for top Formula One stars such as Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton is set to climb the management ladder in Oswestry.

Talented chef Chris Ridgers, a long-standing team member at Oswestry’s popular Wynnstay Hotel, who has cooked for famous racing drivers, is now taking part in a new top management training initiative.

He first went to work there as a 17-year-old novice Commis Chef, gradually making his way up through the ranks until the hotel was taken over some two and a half years ago and given an extensive upgrade and refit by the multi-award-winning Coaching Inn Group.

READ MORE: AA Gold five-star award given to Oswestry's Wynnstay Hotel

During the course of his career, he got the opportunity to fly out to Monaco for the famous Grand Prix five times and chef on the Ferrari hospitality boat for famous drivers including the multi-world champion drivers Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher.

OTHER NEWS:

Now Chris, aged forty-five, has been promoted to acting head chef and invited to participate in a new training programme designed to give participants all the tools and framework needed to progress and succeed within the business.

He admitted that while he was comfortable with his cooking skills, he was embracing the chance to widen his management skills.

“While I am very much at home in my kitchen and enjoy a great camaraderie with my colleagues, I really welcome this opportunity to broaden my wider management and communications skills,” he said.

Get in touch

Share your views on this story by sending a letter to the editor. To get in touch email news@bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk, or fill in the form on this section of our website.

Adam Charity, chief operating officer of the Coaching Inn Group, said its long-standing InnSpire initiative had provided valuable training opportunities that had elevated teams in various departments to management roles.

And he praised Chris for joining the initiative to improve his skills.

He added: “The new programme was crafted to empower talented individuals like Chris who was passionate about the UK’s hospitality industry and eager to gain a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of the business.”