Richard Ogden – Head Tutor

Richard Ogden, Head Cook School Tutor is an accomplished professional chef with a wealth of catering experience. Richard’s early career started in restaurants to develop many of the skills he has today. Rick worked through the ranks to become Sous Chef and Senior Sous Chef in leading UK kitchens. He then transferred from restaurants to become Head Chef for multi award winning national caterers, who were world leading, offering innovative gourmet food and creating memorable guest and client experiences.

Rick has also trained in some of the UKs top Michelin starred restaurants, including Man Behind the Curtain and Latymer at Pennyhill Park. He is passionate about training and developing his own skills and has gained exemplary leadership, mentoring, training and cookery skills with outstanding technical knowledge, along with a passion for quality seasonal produce, attention to detail and drive for perfection. With his friendly and approachable personality he will make sure you are totally inspired.

Ben Hinchliffe  – Tutor

Meet Ben, your Northcote Cookery School Tutor. With his 17+ years’ experience in the culinary field and teacher training background he is ideally suited to help bring out the best out of all our cookery student guests. His caring passionate nature, always with a sense of humour and hands on approach to teaching guarantees you will enjoy your day as well as learning about new produce; dishes; skills and techniques.

Ben offers a wealth of knowledge. Ben’s previous experience in butcheries and fish mongers makes his specialty ‘Meat & Fish’, which features across several of our Cookery School classes.  Ben has also worked as Head Chef at leading pubs in the UK, managing the kitchen and mentoring his teams to produce outstanding menus. He enjoyed taking three years out when he travelled the world, taking time along the way to learn about new cuisines, he loves Mediterranean foods and using Asian flavours.  Ben’s early career involved teacher training, achieving his degree and then becoming a Lecturer in catering and hospitality at Accrington & Rossendale college, covering a broad range of courses in cookery, hygiene and hospitality management, taking students of all levels through their NVQ levels to apprenticeship courses.