Foodservice Apprenticeship Program
Take your basic foodservice skills, passion and dedication and rise to the next level in your career. If you are looking to advance in your career, plan your course in our paid Foodservice Apprenticeship Program. The program is endorsed by the Washington Hospitality Association.
Program requirements
They are pretty simple:
- Low income
- 18+ years of age
- Historical barrier(s) to employment advancement
- Stable in housing and support systems
- At least six months of work experience in the foodservice industry
- Interest in enhancing your professional foodservice skills and career advancement
Here's how we will support you
We are on your team every step of the way.
- Assigned one-on-one career specialist as your coach
- Support in developing your career plan
- Help finding a job and support in advancing your career
- Program is free of charge (and you get paid)
- Bus pass
Here's what you will get
A paid apprenticeship program designed to support your advancement in the foodservice industry. We will work with you to assess where you are, understand your goals and identify what skills you will need to advance your foodservice career.
- 10 - 24 weeks on-the-job paid training
- Individual apprenticeship plan
- Work side-by-side with industry professionals
- "Hands-on" experience working in real restaurants
- Increasing responsibility and skill development
- Resume and interview skills
- Professionalism, teamwork and leadership development
- Coaching for career advancement
- Assistance looking for a job and support services after you get a job
Here's what you have to do
- Commit to the Foodservice Apprenticeship Program as a step in your professional career.
- Set goals and work with us to create a plan to achieve the necessary skills and experience for advancement.
- Commit to your potential and we will be with you every step of the way.
"We’ve hired FareStart graduates for years. We’re looking forward to partnering with them on this new project to help bring more skilled employees into our company knowing that they have committed to furthering their training and that they are looking for longterm employment in the restaurant industry."
- Jennifer Engles-Klann, Director of Operations, The Derschang Group
“There has been a serious shortage of skilled cooks in our market for a long time and yet the number of restaurants opened in the last 5-10 years has skyrocketed. Being able to provide real on-job training to further the basics for a population of people who’ve shown they already want to work hard and commit to doing well for themselves could really help both the problem of the labor shortage and opening up opportunities for better-wage jobs. This is why I’m psyched about FareStart’s new apprenticeship program!”
- Ethan Stowell, Chef & Owner, Ethan Stowell Restaurants
“I’ve been proud to support FareStart from the very beginning – they’ve always been an innovator in responding to poverty and homelessness in our community. Their new apprenticeship program is no exception. The beauty of the program is that it trains up people into living wage jobs while responding to the need for skilled foodservice workers in our region.”
- Thierry Rautureau (Chef in the Hat), Owner, Loulay & Luc
If you are still unsure if the Apprenticeship Program is right for you, contact one of our program staff to talk about it. Call us at 206.787.1592 or email us at apprenticeship@farestart.org.