Relief chef James New is off to Australia with more than £2,000 in his pocket, thanks to AWOL. He tells us how working with AWOL has made him more confident and independent.

 ‘I'd left my permanent job and I knew that in three months’ time I was going to Australia, so it wasn't worth getting a new full time job. I'd heard about AWOL from a chef I'd been working with. AWOL were really helpful – they just started giving me work within a week of my interview. They are very professional and I had no worries at all about being a relief chef.’

Every day like your first day

‘Over the three months I worked for them, I had at least four jobs a week and I reckoned I worked in 20 separate places, ranging from care homes to restaurants and pubs. My favourites were the pubs and restaurants, because I like to work with other people and see how different kitchens work. You might see three or four different methods of making something – pâté, for example – and then come up with a method that is best for you. When you work for an agency, every day is like your first day.

Working with AWOL has given me the confidence to walk into a kitchen and just get on with it. I have to make my own decisions and think on my feet – I don't feel scared about it any more.

Working in the care homes taught me a lot about self-management. AWOL gave me directions and a job sheet with a basic description of what I would be doing. When I got there I was given a menu, told who was having what and then I just got on with it. They had dishes that were completely new to me, like beef cobbler, for example so I took my Practical Cookery in with me. I did a lot of baking in the care homes – something I’d not really done since I left college.

I had a target of how much I wanted to earn a week and I put as many hours in as I could. I easily reached my target.'

New friends and contacts

'Being a relief chef is a good opportunity to get yourself out there and make new friends and contacts. And of course it’s always nice when a client asks for you again – that was a good feeling.

When I get to Australia I’m going to have two weeks off from working and then find work. I really want to learn how to cook fish properly. I'd also like to do some fruit picking for the experience.

AWOL really looked after me well. We had a good business relationship and I did all the work they asked me to do. It is good to throw yourself in at the deep end sometimes – you will learn fast and build up confidence quickly.’

AWOL say: ‘James is a good example of the high calibre of relief chefs we work with – confident, competent, and adaptable to new situations. We’ll be sorry to lose him. Can you take his place? Contact us now.