Kevin’s a shining example of a talented young person taking charge of his career. He left Hawke’s Bay and arrived in Wellington in 2023 aged just 18, with bags of ambition and a signed contract from Floriditas. 

“I had wanted to move to Wellington for a while, as I knew there would be more opportunities for me,” says Kevin. “A work colleague at Craggy Range Winery (where Kevin was a kitchen hand) was doing his New Zealand Cookery Apprenticeship with ServiceIQ. He told me how it worked and how much he was getting out of it. I wasn’t sure if anywhere in Wellington offered it, but I was keen to do it.” 

A quick phone call later between friends Casey McDonald, Executive Chef at Craggy Range, and Hayden McMillan, General Manager and co-owner at Floriditas, and Kevin was all set. 

Since day one, Hayden has been delighted with Kevin’s incredible progress. “He's just a real sponge and is working on most sections now. His positive attitude is one of his biggest strengths. He’s taking on all his tasks diligently and showing plenty of the right attitude to match his potential.” 

Kevin hopes to complete his New Zealand Cookery Apprenticeship by late 2025 and believes that learning on the job has been hugely beneficial. “These are good additions to the apprenticeship. I receive a full-time salary and can complete practical assessments on the job. I came from no experience in cooking, and now I’m learning every day.” 

Kevin also believes that the way the apprenticeship is structured has accelerated his knowledge build-up compared to other cooking career pathways. “On the apprenticeship, you’re working in a restaurant environment at least five days a week, more than some culinary schools or self-taught chefs. So, I’m gaining a lot more experience doing things this way.

“I’ve gained a lot more of an understanding about food, learnt a lot of different skills and how processes work through the programme. I’m making connections and getting a good education of how the restaurant world operates.” 

ServiceIQ's New Zealand Cookery Apprenticeship is the only qualification programme of its kind in New Zealand and is easily delivered to staff through workplace learning and assessment. 

“Assessments can be nerve-wracking!” says Kevin. “But then halfway through you realise that it’s another day cooking, you've done this before, and you can be confident in your skills. I also enjoy working alongside Hayden as he has so much knowledge. He explains things so clearly and in a way that makes it very easy to understand.”

An advocate of ServiceIQ’s cookery apprenticeships, Hayden explains that Kevin is one of four ambitious young people taking ServiceIQ's New Zealand Cookery Apprenticeship in 2025 (both at Floriditas and sister restaurant Loretta). 

“ServiceIQ are fantastic, and I can’t speak highly enough of them. I’m in regular contact with Matt Allison [ServiceIQ Service Sector Advisor in Wellington]. He truly understands the industry and is passionate about providing young chefs with the opportunity to train, upskill, and develop a career in our industry. 

“We are, too. Whenever we have an ambitious new apprentice who we believe would benefit from the apprenticeship, all I have to do is call Matt, sign them up, ServiceIQ provides the literature that needs to be learnt, and we handle all the training in-house, so it works perfectly.” 

As Kevin's career and confidence soar, and he is still only 20, thoughts naturally turn to his long-term future. “I’m still exploring all my options, but becoming head chef one day is the plan, and opening a restaurant is the end goal. My ultimate dream is to open a restaurant in New York.” 

ServiceIQ’s New Zealand Cookery Apprenticeship offers a win-win for employees like Kevin and employers such as Hayden. From five-star restaurants to relaxed and stylish eateries and cafés, businesses seamlessly upskill their people with workplace training that fits around daily operations. Employees get inspired and engaged in real-world learning that’s task-orientated and relevant to fast-forward their culinary careers. 

Aspiring chef or kitchen hand looking to upskill, an employer seeking staff development or something in between? Explore ServiceIQ’s cookery programmes today. 

Make your move and grow yourself or your business with affordable on-the-job hospitality training for your employees. ServiceIQ is the workplace training specialist for the hospitality, retail, tourism, aviation, travel, and museum sectors New Zealand wide.