After more than 27 years working in aviation, Karen Dodds from Fintona has successfully retrained in Cookery at the age of 46 and launched her own food-based business Meadowclere Cookery School following a return to education at South West College.
A change in medical circumstances prompted Karen to reassess her career and pursue her long-standing passion for cooking and baking. Keen to build on her existing skills and gain formal qualifications, she enrolled at SWC Enniskillen, completing Level 2 in Professional Cookery and Patisserie and General Confectionery progressing to Level 3 to further refine her expertise.
Reflecting on her career journey, Karen said: “Although I could cook and bake prior to attending SWC, I wanted to expand my knowledge base and gain recognised qualifications. SWC was convenient and offered a number of pathways with recognised qualifications.
“Going back to college at 46 was certainly challenging, particularly coming from such a different professional background. The course is physically demanding and entirely different from aviation, but it has been incredibly rewarding.”
Karen found not only a comprehensive and hands-on learning experience, but also exceptional support from lecturing staff.
Karen said: “My lecturers, Claire and Stephen, have guided me through this journey and I feel I have evolved enormously in this field. Without them, I do not believe I would have developed the skills, knowledge or credibility needed to start my own food-based business. They are outstanding in their respective fields, highly observant and incredibly supportive, not just to me but to others in the class. I firmly believe they are the finest instructors anyone could wish for, and I would highly recommend studying at SWC.”
Armed with new qualifications and confidence, Karen went on to establish Meadowclere Cookery School, based in Fintona. Her home-based cookery school aims to share her passion for food while inspiring others to develop their own culinary skills.
As she continues her studies at Level 3, Karen hopes to further grow her business and expand the range of experiences she can offer.
Her journey highlights how returning to education can open new opportunities at any stage of life, providing the practical skills and professional credibility needed to turn passion into profession.