A DEIGHTON coffee shop is offering two new apprenticeships to give them a taste of the catering industry.

Appetite Cafe at The Chestnut Centre in Deighton was set up by Dillian Simpson and Ashley Abrahams after their job prospects bore the brunt of the recession.

But just six months since they set up the business they are now offering two apprenticeships to local people to help grow the business and give something back to the community.

Dillian, 28, told the Examiner: “I was working in construction and Ashley was a taxi driver.

“We both found that our respective jobs weren’t viable in the current economic climate and so we put our heads together and came up with running our own business.

“After months of planning we pitched our business to The Chestnut Centre and we were delighted when we secured the contract.

“Appetite is a business, but because of our location in the community centre we are looking at projects to engage with the community and are also now in a position to offer two apprenticeships to people living locally.

“The cafe uses local ingredients and the food has a Caribbean range. I was brought up on that food and we have a great chef.

“We don’t sell chips and burgers. We bake cakes here daily and they have proved really popular and we have a bread supplier who delivers fresh bread every morning.”

And Dillian is already looking to transform outside space, which has been unused since the centre opened seven years ago, to erect raised planters and invite local school children to grow vegetables.

He explained: “We want to get outside seating and we are just waiting for all the red tape to be signed off.

“We want to grow our own vegetables and by getting children involved it is our way of giving something back.”

The two apprenticeships are to be funded by the Government and are for 30 hours a week, in order to obtain a NVQ Level 2 qualification in either customer service, team leading and business administration.

For more information about the apprenticeship opportunities call Dillian on 07765080309 or 01484 519888.