Hoxton Apprentice and Training for Life look for buyers

East London-based training scheme and mini restaurant chain, Hoxton Apprentice, has been put up for sale, while the charity that ran the venues, Training for Life, has also fallen into administration.

The scheme was opened in 2004 as a separate company to Training for Life, under the watchful eyes of social entrepreneur Gordon D’Silva and cookery expert Prue Leith. Neither D’Silva nor Leith are currently involved in the project, however.

Hoxton Apprentice, which has closed its doors while it searches for a buyer, provided trainees with six-month placements with on-the-job training, wages and industry qualifications. Long-term employees were selected from the trainees.

Administrators from Marriotts are handling the sale of Hoxton Apprentice, while Mazars has been appointed by Training for Life.

Hoxton Apprentice runs three restaurants, two of which – the original restaurant in Hoxton Square and the Dartmouth Apprentice in Devon – will continue to honour bookings. However, the Barking Apprentice Café has closed. Paul Barton, the manager at the Café, said, “Training for Life, Barking Apprentice's parent company, has gone into receivership and, therefore, can no longer maintain Barking Apprentice Café. This is mainly due to funding issues and has no bearing or reflection on any of the staff at Barking Apprentice Café."

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