Private Amika Joseph (L) of 1 Medical Regiment and Trooper Akeem Woods (R) of the King’s Royal Hussars prepare their Banana and Chocolate cake for tasting by the Judges (Picture: British Army). — Private Amika Joseph (left) of 1 Medical Regiment and Trooper Akeem Woods (right) of the King's Royal Hussars prepare their banana and chocolate cake for tasting by the judges (Picture: British Army)

Food

British Army Bake Off: Apprentices join battle of the bakers challenge

The British Army hosted its own Bake-Off styled challenge for Apprenticeship week which gave troops a change from the ration packs associated with military life.

Defence College of Logistics, Policing and Administration (DCLPA)'s Food Services Training Wing (FSTW) at Worthy Down, Hampshire, hosted the Apprenticeship Bake Off challenge which included nine teams of two apprentices from across the southeast and southwest Apprenticeship Ambassador Networks.

"The Bake Off is brilliant – it's great to have so many apprentices from so many places, because everyone's apprenticeships stories are a little bit different," said Lieutenant Colonel Jim Crompton who was visiting the event.

"It makes me proud that our apprentices are on the whole so incredibly successful, because our training pipelines are designed so that your trade training is linked to an apprenticeship, which is ultimately linked to a role and potentially a job anywhere," said the Lieutenant Colonel who is responsible for Skills Strategy within the Ministry of Defence.

"Doing an apprenticeship in the Army, or any of the other services, is first and foremost about being a serviceperson, a soldier.

"Because there are certain skills that we learn – ways of behaviour and doing things that mean we're actually very good at problem solving."

Judge Elizabeth Flegg keeps a close eye on Trooper Akeem Woods as he prepares the batter as part of the Bake Off cake section (Picture: British Army).

Under timed conditions, the apprentices were tasked with creating two bakes each, under the watchful eye of Corporal Jaden Dunn, who was supervising the kitchen.

The first task was based on the 'Life Skills' theme of the 2024 National Apprenticeship.

The second was a tray of Chelsea buns, as baked by Army Chef apprentices during their final assessment.

Group image of all those involved with this year’s Apprenticeship Ambassador Network Army Bake Off held at the Defence College of Logistics, Policing and Administration Food Services Training Wing at Worthy Down (Picture: British Army). — Group image of all those involved with this year's Apprenticeship Ambassador Network Army Bake Off held at the Defence College of Logistics, Policing and Administration Food Services Training Wing at Worthy Down (Picture: British Army)

After taking part in the judging, which crowned the Amazon team the winners based on their bakes, Elizabeth Flegg said: "All of the apprentices have been learning about teamwork and time management, alongside cooking and baking skills.

"We've seen the variety of apprenticeships reflected within the cakes.

"That apprenticeship variety is really important because we've got to get the right skills that the country needs to move us into the future and to give people skills for life."