Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts and Hopdoddy Burger Bar announced a unique, flexible educational partnership designed for Hopdoddy employees interested in enrolling in culinary school programs and advancing their careers within the restaurant industry.
Through the new partnership, Escoffier offers its 100 percent online apprenticeship-model culinary programs for Hopdoddy Burger Bar full-time employees to take advantage of while they continue to work at any of their 31 restaurants. Employees can apply their work experience at Hopdoddy Burger Bar toward their externship requirement.
“We understand the scheduling issues, long hours and time constraints chefs and kitchen staff often face,” says Tracy Lorenz, Escoffier’s president and CEO. “We’re in a distinct position to offer our world-class culinary programs for these hard-working employees. Our online programs aren’t bound by geography or rigid timetables and give Hopdoddy employees the freedom and flexibility to take classes that fit within their schedules to help develop and deepen culinary skills and knowledge. We see this apprenticeship model as a positive way to give working staff additional options for career advancement.”
The Escoffier Hopdoddy partnership is one way the two organizations are looking to address the current shortage of culinary professionals and enhance retention and advancement opportunities in the workforce. Escoffier is also offering two full scholarships, (value $16,000 each), for more details on employee nomination criteria, visit escoffier.edu/hopdoddy.
The partnership also includes an Escoffier $2,000 per student tuition discount, along with additional financial aid options for employees who qualify. Students can graduate with either a Diploma in Culinary Arts and Operations or Diploma in Professional Pastry Arts, from an institution accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET).
