The Courtyard Dairy specialist cheese retailer in Settle is looking to take on a keen apprentice to learn the art of cheese maturing and retailing. Since opening last year, the owners have brought fine farmhouse cheeses to the area and have seen a keen interest in their products.

They are already supplying many of the region’s top restaurants due to their refusal to supply anything but the best quality.

The business is growing fast and they feel the time is right to take on an apprentice.

The apprentice would be involved in all areas of the business, including the specialist skill of cheese maturing. The art of cheese maturing (French ‘affinage’) is not widely practised in the UK, so Andy Swinscoe, The Courtyard Dairy’s owner, had to travel abroad to learn it.

He said: “I was lucky enough to do a lengthy apprenticeship in cheese-maturing in France. Now I’d like to pass on that expertise and skill so that The Courtyard Dairy can continue to grow.

“We are looking for someone enthusiastic about fine food and keen to learn more, including gaining specialist skills not available to many. “That’s the person we’d love to join The Courtyard Dairy’s young team, maturing and retailing some of the best cheeses in the world.

“It’s a full-time position and as part of their training the apprentice would be enrolled on a college apprenticeship course.”

For more information, contact Andy on 01729 892 902, or email andy@ thecourtyarddairy.co.uk