Stacey Dooley takes five 16-18 year olds into different industries crying out for young workers for the ultimate work experience. They kick off their journey in a Gordon Ramsay restaurant in London, where head chef Davide and front of house manager Roberto agree to mentor them over two days, giving them hands-on experience with real customers. Both of them have worked their way up in the restaurant business over 20 years and are passionate about the industry they love, and they expect reliability and a strong work ethic from anyone working alongside them. How will the five teens handle this opportunity to pick up tips from such great mentors?

For some, it’s a complete shock to the system, and for others it’s a chance to revel in learning some top-notch hospitality skills in this gourmet Italian restaurant. If they deserve it, Stacey pays them the national apprenticeship wage of £3.70 an hour at the end of each day, but they are surprised to discover that deductions are made for living expenses in the capital. Stacey has provided the five with accommodation, but she is expecting them to live off their earnings as well as to shop and cook for themselves.

Hospitality is multibillion-pound industry and is the fourth biggest employer in the UK, relying on an army of workers to keep going and encompassing restaurants, hotels, theme parks and leisure facilities. A lot of the work here is front of house, and you really do need to know how to interact with members of the public who are spending their own hard-earned money in their leisure time. Some of our teens struggle to find the confidence to engage with strangers and prefer to head to the kitchen to learn from top chef Davide. Others find cleaning even more of a challenge, and there are words have to be had with Davide and Roberto. Show less