Through the Clink Charity, while serving a sentence in HMP Styal, Zoe discovered a love of cooking, completing her level 1 and 2 NVQs whilst working in the Clink Restaurant within the prison. Zoe had never had a job before, but discovered her passion while she was working at the Clink Restaurant leading her to be the first ever delegate to undertake an apprenticeship with them. Supported by Hydes brewery, Zoe started her L3 Commis Chef apprenticeship on day release at a restaurant in Cheshire. While on release she was unable to have access to IT, and so had the additional challenge of having to upload all of her evidence back at the prison, as she was not allowed access to a laptop. The journey has not been an easy one, with Zoe’s life challenging her from an early age, and the judges were impressed by her passion and resilience, as well as her ability to overcome the challenges she has faced. Zoe’s ambition is to have her own fine dining restaurant, and we are sure that with her enthusiasm, commitment and the support of the hospitality industry that she will make it, showing the world that hospitality and apprenticeships are for everyone.
