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Salar Brock: From Exeter College to the Rick Stein Restaurants

As part of Exeter College celebrating 50 years as the UK’s first ever tertiary college, we’re talking to some of the inspirational students, staff and alumni who have helped make us the Ofsted Outstanding education provider we are today.  

This article was written by Amy Vann, JAx Journalism Academy student.   

Before the lockdown, I had the pleasure of speaking to Salar Brock, Operations Manager at the Rick Stein Restaurants. During this interview, Salar talked to me about his Exeter College experience and discussed the details of being Operations Manager for one of the most significant influencers in all things seafood.  

Born and bred in Exeter, and still living just around the corner from Exeter College, Salar studied the NVQ Intermediate course in Hospitality, noting that the College ‘always had a good reputation of excellence.’ 

Wanting to work in a restaurant or hotel environment from a young age, Salar said, “I always liked to engage with different people, I found it very fun. The course gave me an oversight of many different areas.  

“If you go to one restaurant, you learn about what they do, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But if you go to college, you get a foundation of learning all skills for all restaurants. You have a better understanding of everything.”  

Salar’s endless passion for food and hospitality was abundantly clear, commenting on his love for looking after people and how lucky he is to do it at the Rick Stein Restaurants.  

He said, “I’ve also always loved being part of a team, striving to make things better both for your colleagues and for the customer. You get to work with great products and producers, and it is exciting!”  

Working within the Rick Stein Restaurants since 2014, the biggest part of Salar’s job is building teams and connections, through working on internal and external relationships. Internally, there is a heavy focus on organising general managers and head chefs, ensuring that they pass their knowledge onto the teams, and making sure that they can take on any challenges. 

Having now worked in an array of locations including Walkabout Bar, The Castle Hotel in Taunton, and a conference hotel, Salar was grateful for his college experience.   

“The catering course at Exeter College gave me early exposure to everything. For young aspiring managers, it is important not to settle and only do one thing. Explore other options,” he said.  

“I think having that overall knowledge from the College course was great. To have that understanding of produce and how to create the end product helped me, as it meant I could discuss all aspects of the job. It gives you that underlying knowledge and confidence.”  

One of Salar’s significant achievements in his career with Rick Stein is his progression, from his early role as the manager of their flagship seafood restaurant in Padstow, Cornwall, to becoming part of the senior management team.  

Rick and Jill Stein started their first family restaurant in 1975, but today their company employs over 500 people across 10 restaurants and a cookery school. A big moment for the company was getting into ‘The Times 100 best employers’, where they came 54th in ‘Best Employer in Britain’ in just their first year of entering.   

“We feel very passionate and proud about being included in this. It shows every level of the business working together and as a team,” said Salar. 

Reflecting on his time at Exeter College, Salar shared his advice for any students looking to branch out into hospitality,  “I came to Exeter College primarily focused on being a hotel manager, and actually I don’t work in a hotel at all now. Gaining experience in every part of hospitality, from Michelin Starred restaurants to working at your local café is important.  

“Gain experience and work in as many places as you can. Use the resources when you’re at college and be open to ideas; you don’t know of the opportunities that may be available.”  

This article was written by Amy Vann, member of the JAx Journalism Academy. Find out more about the different academies that are offered at Exeter College.

Exeter College is celebrating 50 years since being named as the UK’s first tertiary college. Although our roots date back to the 1800s, our status as a tertiary college marked a revolution in further education and 2020 marks our 50 years of excellence since that landmark. If you have a memory of Exeter College through the years that you’d like to share, contact marketing@exe-coll.ac.uk or get involved on social media using #ExeColl50.   

May 2004: City pensioner student proves it’s never too late to learn. 

As part of Exeter College celebrating 50 years as the UK’s first ever tertiary college, we are looking back on some memorable events which have helped us to become the Ofsted Outstanding education provider we are today.

THEN…

In May 2004, we celebrated the achievements of Exeter pensioner Helen who, by completing two A Levels at Exeter College, became a shining example of what many adult learners could achieve. 

Helen did so well in her studies she was nominated for the Senior Learner of the Year award by the National Institute of Adult Education. 

Completing her A Level in English Literature and an AS Level Maths in just one year, she continued her studies with a Maths A2 course. 

Helen said at the time: “I retired, but I decided that I didn’t want to watch daytime television, so I looked for alternatives. 

“I went for Maths and English because the subjects had changed so much since I was at school in the 1960s. I have enjoyed every minute of it. 

“It surprised me to be nominated for this award,” Helen added. 

Helen also admitted that she had also influenced other people to follow her lead, persuading friends and acquaintances to apply for courses and further their education like herself.   

NOW…

To this day, Exeter College offers a broad spectrum of courses available to adults, from entry level to degree level, from leisure courses to professional courses. We pride ourselves on giving our adult learners a personalised approach to teaching in a supportive and engaging environment. 

The Teaching Excellence Framework has awarded our university level teaching ‘Gold’, so our students know that they’ll receive exceptional teaching and gain the skills needed to take them to the next level. 

If you’re interested in completing an adult course, like Helen, find out more at our Adult Online Open Event on Tuesday the 16th of June, 3pm – 7pm.  

We can help you to find the right course for your future. At our open event, you’ll have the opportunity to hear from lecturers, ask live questions to teachers and learn about the support and guidance offered at Exeter College.  

You can register your interest in our Adult Open Event today.  

Read about the other ways Exeter College has supported the community during these unprecedented times.  

Check out everything we’ve done to celebrate 50 years since being named as the UK’s first ever tertiary college.   

Exeter College is celebrating 50 years since being named as the UK’s first tertiary college. Although our roots date back to the 1800s, our status as a tertiary college marked a revolution in further education and 2020 marks our 50 years of excellence since that landmark. If you have a memory of Exeter College through the years that you’d like to share, contact marketing@exe-coll.ac.uk or get involved on social media using #ExeColl50. 

April 1991: City top of the class in further education

As part of Exeter College celebrating 50 years as the UK’s first ever tertiary college, we are looking back on some key events which have helped us to become the Ofsted Outstanding education provider we are today.  

In April 1991 it was reported that, for the first time, the majority of young people in Britain had decided to stay on in education after finishing school at 16. The south west was above the national average, with Exeter College leading the way for further education institutions.  

Educationalist Professor Ted Wragg said at the time, “Here in Exeter we are very fortunate – Exeter College offers every kind of course for school leavers. It can cater for everything from vocational courses to A Levels.” 

This is something we continue to pride ourselves on in 2020. We offer a range of different course types for different learners, from Apprenticeships, A Levels and vocational courses to the International Baccalaureate and new T Level qualifications.  

Professor Ted Wragg said in 1991, “We underestimate the influence of parents. More parents are now recognising the value of further education and training and are supporting their children, and we hope they will continue to.” 

Indeed, further education has grown and developed since 1991, and our education offer has grown and adapted with the needs of industry and the local community.  

As well as being a government-appointed early adopter of new T Level qualifications, we are also hosting a new South West Institute of Technology Digital and Data Centre that’s part of a wider bid to revolutionise digital, engineering and manufacturing technology education across the region. The Centre will play host to industry-standard digital technology and will provide learners the skills to move directly into the workplace or further study. Construction is underway and is scheduled to be completed in early 2021.  

Find out more about the Digital and Data Centre at Exeter College.  

Check out everything we’ve been doing to celebrate 50 years since being named as the UK’s first ever tertiary college.  

Exeter College is celebrating 50 years since being named as the UK’s first tertiary college. Although our roots date back to the 1800s, our status as a tertiary college marked a revolution in further education and 2020 marks our 50 years of excellence since that landmark. If you have a memory of Exeter College through the years that you’d like to share, contact marketing@exe-coll.ac.uk or get involved on social media using #ExeColl50   

April 2004: Green Light for Centre for Creative Industries

As part of Exeter College celebrating 50 years as the UK’s first-ever tertiary college, we’re looking back on some key events which helped us to become the Ofsted Outstanding education provider we are today. 

In the early 2000s, we committed to our ambitious expansion programme, ensuring that our students had the best opportunities and facilities available. Nearly two decades later we continue to grow, with our new Digital and Data Centre to open early in 2021. 

Then… Planning Approved for Centre for Creative Industries (April 2004)

In 2004 we were given the green light to build our Centre for Creative Industries (CCI), establishing an inspiring learning environment for our visual and performing arts students.  

Exeter College worked with the council and city residents to produce plans for a state-of-the-art three-story education centre adjacent to Exeter’s cultural quarter to act as a hub for our creatively gifted students. 

Consisting of a 160-seat theatre, art and design studios and exhibition space, the CCI encompasses industry standard facilities and today forms an integral part of Exeter’s academic infrastructure.  

Richard Atkins CBE, our Principal at the time, said, “We are trying to work in partnership with other schools to invest significantly in educational buildings in Exeter. 

“This Centre is a very important part of our plans. The arts are very popular with young people, and we want to offer them good facilities.”  

Since completion, the Centre of Creative Industries has helped thousands of the south west’s students on their education journey and remains at the cutting edge of creative education in the country.

And Now…  Construction Continues on Digital and Data Centre

Sixteen years later and Exeter College continues to invest in the education offering in Exeter, with construction currently underway on a new Digital and Data Centre. To be completed in early 2021, the centre will form a part of a wider South West Institute of Technology (SWIOT) plan to revolutionise digital, engineering and manufacturing technology education in the south west. 

The £10.3million building, based at our Hele Road campus, will be a modern learning environment complete with state-of-the-art digital learning laboratories. This will provide students with quality higher level technical training and prepare them for work or further study in the digital sector.  

The Digital and Data Centre will be at the heart of Exeter College’s digital education, providing new opportunities to learn about data analytics, cybersecurity and software development.  

Digital and Data Centre Flythrough

Exeter College is celebrating 50 years since being named as the UK’s first tertiary college. Although our roots date back to the 1800s, our status as a tertiary college marked a revolution in further education and 2020 marks our 50 years of excellence since that landmark. If you have a memory of Exeter College through the years that you’d like to share, contact marketing@exe-coll.ac.uk or get involved on social media using #ExeColl50  

March 2000: Exeter College ranked as ‘best in the west’

As part of Exeter College celebrating 50 years as the UK’s first ever tertiary college, we’re talking to some of the inspirational students, staff and alumni who have helped make us the Ofsted Outstanding education provider we are today. 

Then: 

In March 2000, we welcomed Further Education Funding Council bosses into our College, who completed a breakdown inspection over a week-long period.  

Ranked against seven other local education centres, Exeter College came out on top. We obtained the best score for two performance levels and came second for a third.  

The inspectors commented on the outstanding student support and the impressive increase in our overall A Level pass rate, with a 13% increase since 1998.  

Tim Smith, Principal at the time, said, “At a time when education is coming under such intense scrutiny, it is good to achieve a grade profile that is probably the best in the west in the current academic year.”  

Now: 

Two decades later and we continue to uphold these incredible results, currently standing as Devon’s only Ofsted Outstanding further education College. 

We have also been named as the best in the South West for employer satisfaction in Apprenticeships and we’re on the Sunday Times Top 100 Not for Profit Employer list. On top of this, we’ve been selected as one of the first colleges in the country (the only one in Devon) to offer the T Level qualification, rolling out this September. 

Additionally, we’ve maintained our amazing results, setting new records for the latest academic year. Our A Level students achieved an overall pass rate of 99.7%, well above the national average. Our International Baccalaureate results were the best in the College’s history, with 100% of students passing and nearly a third of students achieving more than 40 points out of a possible 45.  

We couldn’t be prouder of all our students, staff and partners who have helped to shape and uphold the success of our college.  
 
Interested in joining Exeter College? Apply now online.  

Exeter College is celebrating 50 years since being named as the UK’s first tertiary college. Although our roots date back to the 1800s, our status as a tertiary college marked a revolution in further education and 2020 marks our 50 years of excellence since that landmark. If you have a memory of Exeter College through the years that you’d like to share then contact marketing@exe-coll.ac.uk or get involved on social media using #ExeColl50 

Young Chefs Best in the West

As part of Exeter College celebrating 50 years as the UK’s first ever tertiary college, we’re talking to some of the inspirational students, staff and alumni who have helped make us the Ofsted Outstanding education provider we are today. 

Exeter College’s current hospitality and catering students are following a legacy of success for the department. As we reflect on three then-Exeter College students making the headlines on this month 42 years ago, our current fledgling students are also cooking up a storm in the region’s culinary competitions.  

Then… 

From the left Julia Shackleford from Exmouth, Andrew Corrick from Sidmouth, and Charles Moore, Dawlish (1972).

In February 1972, three Exeter College students won the first prize with their dishes at the ‘Cater 78’ competition for the second year running. The annual contest, held in Paignton, was the most significant provincial catering exhibition in Britain at the time.  

The second year culinary arts students created lavish dishes as part of the contest. One team member, Andrew Corrick from Sidmouth, spent a total of 19 hours preparing and cooking his fish dish which landed him the first prize. Exmouth’s Julia Shackleford and Charles Moore from Dawlish were the other winners on the night.  

The Head of Food and Fashion at the time said he was proud of the students’ success.   

“The judges told us afterwards that the standard of our work was higher than that seen recently at the National Culinary Competition at Olympia.” 

And now… 

Forty-two years later and our hospitality and catering students are still flying high. This month a group of students competed in the Major Series competition, bringing home medals for their achievements.   

The annual Major Series competition, in association with The Craft Guild of Chefs, aims to provide students with the opportunity to showcase their skills while competing against their peers from other colleges.  

With categories ranging from the ‘Hot Chicken Challenge’ to the ‘Decorated Gateau Class’, students can demonstrate and build on a range of skills.  

Our students once again impressed the judges, with three students coming home with gold, seven with silver and four with bronze medals.   

Mark Stoyle, Programme Leader for Hospitality, Hair and Beauty, accompanied the students to this year’s Major Series event.   

“As always, the students have made our faculty and the college amazingly proud. They have come back with a good haul of medals – excellent results throughout,” said Mark.   

Rosie Nevill, Level 3 Professional Cookery student, will be going to London for the national final next year. Rosie has also been asked to return as one of the judges in 2021. 

Exeter College students who competed in the Major Series Competition 2020.  

Exeter College is celebrating 50 years since being named as the UK’s first tertiary college. Although our roots date back to the 1800s, our status as a tertiary college marked a revolution in further education and 2020 marks our 50 years of excellence since that landmark. If you have a memory of Exeter College through the years that you’d like to share, contact marketing@exe-coll.ac.uk or get involved on social media using #ExeColl50 

The Sound of Success: Alumni on his Fledgling Career as a Sound Engineer

As part of Exeter College celebrating 50 years as the UK’s first ever tertiary college, we’re talking to some of the inspirational students, staff and alumni who have helped make us the Ofsted Outstanding education provider we are today. 

Since finishing his course at Exeter College, no day has been the same for alumni Jed Holmes. Working on impressive projects as a sound engineer, 19-year-old Jed has worked all over England and even in the USA.  

Jed completed his Music Technology BTEC Extended Diploma in 2019 and has been working at the Exeter branch of Stage Engage ever since.  

Jed explained, “Doing the Music Technology course was great. I had engaging lecturers and it gave me a good starting point for my career.”  

Since working with Stage Engage, Jed has participated in some incredibly exciting activities both in England and Boston, Massachusetts. His highlights so far have included doing the sound for The Royal Television Society Awards in Birmingham and producing the sound for several BBC premieres including Man Like Mobeen and This Country.  

Jed’s advice to anyone else who may want to work in his industry is to get as much work experience as possible.   

He continued, “While in college I worked with Seventh Wave Audio on a pantomime in Bournemouth. Here I was taught to mix, and at one point, I ended up delivering the sound for nearly 1,600 people. I also fitted everyone’s microphones which was a valuable experience.”  

Jed Holmes

On top of this, Jed would help with the sound for several college events as well as regularly helping with live lunch services.   

“I was also allowed time to develop my own business, Simply Stage – the staff at Exeter College were really flexible and supportive when it came to things like this. You can never get enough real-world experience.”   

Exeter College is celebrating 50 years since being named as the UK’s first tertiary college. Although our roots date back to the 1800s, our status as a tertiary college marked a revolution in further education and 2020 marks our 50 years of excellence since that landmark. If you have a memory of Exeter College through the years that you’d like to share, contact marketing@exe-coll.ac.uk or get involved on social media using #ExeColl50.  

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