TWO FORMER Army chefs who met while posted in Germany have set up a catering recruitment company in Darlington.

Lee Coutts and Bill Johnston, who both served as military chefs with the 2nd battalion Light Infantry, are directors of North-East Chefs, which starts trading as a limited company this month.

The pair are both experienced chefs and have done freelance work around the region - and the country - since leaving the Army.

Now they have set up their own business with the help of Darlington Business Venture and are using the administrative and catering skills they learned in the Army.

The pair, who have served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Poland, Canada, the US and Brunei, have set up their offices in Northgate House, Darlington, in Darlington Business Venture's recently opened Viewpoint Suite - with subsidised utilities, computers and facilities.

Mr Coutts said: "It is good because we do not need to pay business rates yet. When you are starting out in business being supported like this takes the pressure off going out and having to initially outlay a lot of money for premises."

The company is a temporary and relief catering recruitment business providing staff to cover all disciplines through the hotel and catering sector in the North-East.

All grades of chefs, care home cooks, school cooks, waiting, bar and reception staff, hotel managers and housekeeping staff are recruited.

Mr Coutts said: "I've had experience of recruitment firms before and many of them just send any staff out to care homes, etc, regardless of their experience in that sector.

"I know that catering in a care home is very different because you have to cater for people's dietary needs.

"We have looked at what a lot of similar business to ours do and tried to take the best bits out of all of them. At the end of the day, we know our field and know what the clients are looking for, and we will always supply them with a good employee."

North-East Chefs can be contacted on (01325) 364464 or (01325) 289637.