Gordon Ramsay Offers Job To College Student Refused A Chef Course Because Of His Height

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Gordon Ramsay has taken to social media to defend a teenager who was turned down from a college course because he was too short.

18-year-old Louis Makepeace, who has a form of dwarfism, had applied for a cooking course but was turned down by Heart of Worcestershire College after they said he would be a ‘health and safety risk’ to the other pupils, and could cause a ‘disruption’ if he got under their feet.

TV chef Gordon, 51, blasted the college for their decision and attitude.

Tweeting to his 6.8 million followers, Ramsay said:

Disgusting attitude, I’d offer him an Apprenticeship any day.

Louis said it would be a ‘dream come true’ to work with the celebrity chef, and was amazed to receive his backing.

He added:

It would be absolutely incredible if he is serious about it. I can’t believe he has seen it and is supporting me as I am a huge fan of his.

I watch all his videos on Youtube as well as his TV shows – I really love his leek and tarragon pasta recipe and I cook his stuff all the time.

It would be an honour to work with him. I really hope he means it as it would be a dream come true.

It is just amazing to receive his backing. I can’t believe it.

Louis, who is 3ft 10ins, spoke about how he had been turned down from the Hospitality and Catering course due to his height, despite being given a conditional offer from the college.

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He said:

We are supposed to have equality of opportunity yet I’m not allowed to do something I love doing.

They said I would be a health and safety risk and disruption to the other students and get in their way, which was really humiliating.

It really has dented my confidence. How am I ever supposed to get the culinary skills that’s going to get me a job in a catering environment?

Louis’ mum, Pauline, 56, said she was told by a course leaders there was no point in her son doing the programme as he would ‘never be allowed to work in a restaurant anyway’.

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She said:

This just goes to prove they are wrong if Gordon Ramsay is coming out in support.

Louis is a huge fan of his and we would be very interested in speaking to his people if he is serious about it. It has made his day just getting his backing.

Louis and his mum were hoping the college would make the necessary adjustments for him, but being turned away has been a real knock-back for the teenager.

He added:

It was really upsetting as I had my heart set on this course. They are simply not prepared to make the necessary adjustments to accommodate me such as making the surfaces and hobs lower.

The college have said Louis’ place on the course is still under discussion, so fingers crossed for a positive outcome for the aspiring chef.

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Charlie Cocksedge

Charlie Cocksedge is a journalist and sub-editor at UNILAD. He graduated from the University of Manchester with an MA in Creative Writing, where he learnt how to write in the third person, before getting his NCTJ. His work has also appeared in such places as The Guardian, PN Review and the bin.