Among the students placed, two spend a year working at London's Royal Opera House restaurants where head chef Stephen Turner oversees them as they work in four different kitchens serving a regularly changing menu to over 300 people every day.

However, once a year, rather than visit him at the Royal Opera House, all the students welcome Stephen Turner to the college instead, for a Guest Chef Night at the Tower training restaurant in Wembley.

While Stephen brings the food and supervises the whole operation, the catering students do all the cooking and serving. The event involves the students practicing dishes for several weeks in advance of the evening, as well as five hours of preparation on the day.

Angolan student Celso da Costa, who was studying at the college last year, enjoyed the experience so much, and impressed the team at Royal Opera House restaurants that he worked additional days at the restaurants to those required by his course.

He says of the Head Chef, "Stephen is very nice – he never shouts, and before a big function he explains what we have to do and what time is available."

"It was a good experience and very interesting and I learned a lot [including] the value of my job and how important is for me.” Celso completed his NVQ Level 3, even overcoming the loss of documents, money and course notes after his flat was burgled.