Holly’s ‘kitchen nightmares’ are dream come true after landing job with Gordon Ramsay

A local chef is cooking up a storm after landing a coveted job with Gordon Ramsay.

Holly Jackson, from New Moston, has quickly risen through the ranks of the industry just five years after earning an advanced diploma from Hopwood Hall College in Rochdale.

The 25-year-old studied Hospitality and Catering at the college, where she specialised in Patisserie and Confectionery.

The qualification sparked a rapid career trajectory and she now works as Senior Pastry Chef de Partie at Ramsay’s Lucky Cat restaurant at 22 Bishopsgate in London.

This establishment is the highest restaurant in Europe and is featured on the Netflix documentary Being Gordon Ramsay.

Holly, a former pupil at Co-op Academy Failsworth in Oldham, features in several scenes of the popular six-episode series.

It’s a ‘dream come true’ for the kitchen whizz who ‘had the best start’ when she trained at Hopwood Hall College.

Holly says: “It’s such an exhilarating and high intensity career – but it’s absolutely worth it.

“Hopwood gave me the perfect start and the tutors were always so supportive.

“They would always say, ‘you can do whatever you want, you can really go far’ – so I never doubted that I could do it.

“My career has been unbelievable and my parents are so proud of me; they’re always posting about my success on Facebook!”

Holly, who during her training at the college came third in Young Pastry Chef of the Year 2021, passed her course with a remarkable three distinctions.

This quickly unlocked a string of opportunities and she moved to London after landing the role of Pastry Commis Chef at the Michelin restaurant Hakkasan.

From there she began working as Pastry Demi Chef de Partie at the capital’s iconic five-star hotel The Corinthia.

Following this, she was appointed as Head Chocolatier for the world-renowned Fortnum & Mason.

This then paved the way for the rising star to secure her current position working at the 60-storey high hotspot opened by chef Gordon Ramsay.

Julia Heap OBE, Principal and CEO of Hopwood Hall College, said:

“I’m so proud of Holly, whose career really has gone from strength to strength since completing her training at Hopwood Hall.

“It’s brilliant to hear about the praise she has for her tutors and the ways they encouraged her that the sky was the limit during her course.

“Holly really is a fantastic example of what can be achieved in such a short space of time when you follow your passion, have the best support and secure the right qualification.”

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