Why culinary school is the best career decision I’ve made

My name is Niall, and I’m about to complete the Core Certificate Programme at Leiths Culinary School. Looking back on the last few weeks, it’s clear that so much has changed in such a short time.

After 15 years of self-teaching, Leiths has given me the core skills I couldn’t give myself. On the surface, I’ve cooked a lot of delicious food. On a deeper level, I’ve developed a strong foundation in organisation, teamwork and professional pride.

From music student to kitchen obsessive

I first discovered cooking at university, where I was studying music. Like most of my fellow students, I left home with no idea how to look after myself. While my instrument gathered dust, my real education was in home economics – food blogs, YouTube, specialist shops and a lot of trial and error.

Eventually I got myself into a restaurant kitchen. I was handed a box of girolle mushrooms, told to trim them, and worked double unpaid shifts with my name on the whiteboard: STAGIAIRES – NIALL – WANTS JOB. It was exciting, but unsustainable, and I had to stop.

I went back to music. But cooking never left me. It was my refuge, my source of pride, and the first step to organising my mind every day.

Finding my team – and my way to Leiths

For the last three years, I’ve volunteered at Nourish Hub, a community kitchen run by food waste charity UKHarvest. Every week we take in surplus produce and turn it into restaurant-quality meals served on a pay-what-you-can basis. The experience transformed me – my work ethic, my mental health, my sense of purpose.

When I was struggling to find work, Nourish Hub put me in touch with Leiths. One phone call later, I was enrolled on the Core Certificate.

What professional culinary training actually gave me

The Leiths training kitchen gave me everything that the sink-or-swim world of professional kitchens had failed to. I was part of a team of equals from day one. Instructors offered genuine mentorship and took an interest in my story. I had space to address the gaps in my knowledge while building on the skills I’d taught myself.

At Leiths, professional development isn’t an afterthought – it’s the goal from the start. The instructors bring rich careers, industry contacts, and the kind of honest, constructive feedback that actually moves you forward.

What’s next

I’m looking to continue my development in professional kitchens, with the longer-term aim of playing a bigger role in the charity sector – reducing food waste and helping to get good food to the people who need it most.

My sincere thanks to the team at Leiths, and to Nourish Hub, for giving me this opportunity.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in food like Niall, find out more about the Core Certificate and the Leiths Culinary Diploma here.