Growing up, baking was an enjoyable and every day part of family life for Renee Kepa, an Auckland baking apprentice.
"My family always baked while I was growing up. My mum has always taught me to bake and cook from when I was small," says Renee.
Renee got her start as an apprentice by approaching Pierre's Breadshop, an Auckland wholesale bakery, and asking them to employ and mentor her through the apprenticeship programme.
The apprenticeship programme suits Renee's interests and lifestyle, which includes being mum to a young baby. She also hopes to travel in the future.
"The apprenticeship programme is fun and you get to work and earn money while you're learning. I want to get my qualification so that I can travel. When I do, I'll have a qualification that's accepted anywhere in the world."
In addition to her hands-on training, for which she is paid a wage, Renee works on units by correspondence.
"There's always someone there helping you if you need it. It's not like you get your books and that's it - we don't want to hear from you again until the test!"
Renee loves work atmosphere of baking, and particularly enjoys working with the team at Pierre's.
"There's a great crew at Pierre's. A real mixture of people. It's very multicultural, not just one race. We're always having a laugh while we're working, and we have a pretty good boss too! With baking, you're always on the go. It's not like a sit down office job from 8 5. You're constantly doing something and constantly learning something."
Renee enjoys making a range of products, but her specialty and her passion is breads.
"I enjoy learning about all the different types of breads. There's always something new to learn whether its different grains and weights, or different techniques - you can never know everything!" |
