I'd say contact all your local (TOP quality) hotels and restaraunts. (no less than 4 * or 1 rossette) Ask for either sponsorship (to send you to college and work off the money) or a job, where they do NVQ's or SVQ's in house.

Like I said before in another thread, I am just starting to do my SVQ's now, but have been cooking for a while and have good skills. (or so I think)

Experience is worth more than a bit of paper anyday.  As for the basics.....Get the pratical cookery book.  It's like a bible of basics.

I have the eighth edition (old now) by Victor Ceserani, Ronald Kinton and David Foskett.

It's what you should start to read first.

Hope this helps.

Steve

Hi
I am really keen to get started with my own place where I would primarily like to make soups and shakes. I guess that soups (with the exception of chilled soups which aren't everyone's favourite) are a seasonal thing, so I thought that perhaps cakes and shakes alongside the soups could be a good idea.
Portsmouth has quite a big student community so there's lots of opportunities to do well if the location is good and the food is reasonably priced.
There isn't anything else like this in Portsmouth so maybe it could work. I'm also interested in the possibility of a vegetarian resturant as there is at present only one, small and very overpriced restuarant in town.
Just wondered if anyone had any tips on this? Be grateful for any advice!   

hey jamie is such a ace chef, im 15 and love to cook have made most of his dishes, they rule!
i am half way through ma 1st yr of GCSE and loving it, i am goin 2 b as good as u 1 day jamie  u are soo inspiring!. when i am older hehe i will open a restauraunt ne1 willing 2 help??? luv yall xx lauren hehe xx

In 2003 i went to Sydney Australia for study, business, and there i got a job at JetBar-café on Queen Victoria Building, i start there like a waiter but in one week i asked my boss if i can change to the kitchen, so i started work and i just loved, i was one year in Sydney and was there that i saw Jamie Oliver the first time.
Guys for sure Jamie was my big symbol for start cook!
Last year i was in London, work place Dim-t Asian food in Charlotte st, Hampsted and High Gate Village, great experience and London was fantastic and i had opportunity to visit the Fifteen, to be honest i was a little jealous to see the guys working with jamie.   
jamie learn wifh you is desire mate...
jamie tanks mate for contribute in my Chef´s Life!
I´m your FAN number one
Big hug mate
Marcos from Brazil
Marcos from Brazil

hi everybody,
I'm from italy, I run the kitchen of an italian restaurant since I was 19,then I decided to move to uk, but I'm afraid that the experience that I have would not be enough in uk cause I never trained as a chef in a proper way,I just followed my granma and mum footsteps.and I'm studying international politics at pisa university.what should I do?I so want to live and work in uk