We are incredibly proud to celebrate the outstanding achievement of Year 12 student Christine Ombembe, who recently completed a prestigious week-long work experience placement at Jamie Oliver Headquarters in London.

Christine was nominated for this incredible opportunity by Mrs Chiremba, Head of DT at Brooke Weston Academy, following her active participation in the Jamie Oliver Ministry of Food programme. As part of this initiative, Mrs Chiremba delivered lessons inspired by the Ministry of Food campaign and was given the chance to nominate students for a unique and highly sought-after work experience placement.

Out of applicants from across the country, Christine was one of only three students selected nationwide and the first to complete the placement. Her week at Jamie Oliver HQ was filled with exciting, hands-on experiences that offered a real insight into the world of food, media, and hospitality. During her placement, Christine:

• Experimented with recipes in the development kitchen
• Helped cater for 100 guests at a special event in partnership with Samsung
• Visited Jamie Oliver’s restaurant in Covent Garden
• Collaborated with the social media team to create a ‘Day in the Life’ post for her own social media channels

The Jamie Oliver education team went above and beyond to ensure Christine had a meaningful and memorable experience, arranging her transport and accommodation and curating a diverse programme of activities.

Mrs Chiremba, who visited Christine during her placement, said, ‘I am absolutely delighted that Christine was successful in applying for this incredible opportunity and immensely proud of her achievements. I met several of the chefs and the education team when I went to visit her, and they were all extremely complimentary about Christine’s performance.'

Christine said, ‘It was an amazing experience and an opportunity that doesn’t come often, so I was overjoyed when I found out I’d been chosen. The atmosphere was really positive and fun, and everyone was very welcoming. I worked with different chefs and met Jamie Oliver, who told me I should be very proud of my achievements. The best part was the day of the event, seeing how it all works and how the HQ prepares for these things. I saw some influencers and being able to speak to them gave me some insight on what they do in the culinary industry as an influencer. This opportunity has highlighted my passion for cooking, and I hope to pursue it further through university or an apprenticeship.’