IF a hard taskmaster such as Sir Alan Sugar refers to your business as 'world class' then you know you must be doing something right.

Judy Gardner had that pleasure last week after her Eckington Manor Cookery School was featured on the television show The Apprentice. The school was used as a prize for the winning girls' team, who tried their hands at preparing their own meals.

The cookery school opened in September 2007 and has proved a big hit with a range of classes filling up quickly. Judy bought Manor Farm after the previous owners had gained planning permission to develop the site and convert the existing barns.

She said: "We have had great success since opening and I believe there are a number of factors which make us unique.

"For example, we have more Agas than any other business of this nature. We have a farm on site and use meat and apples produced here as well as using local produce whenever possible in our cooking.

"This helps to support the local community and is good for the economy. We were very keen that this development had no detrimental impact on village life. I live here and have done for years so that is the last thing I would have wanted."

One person who has helped the school become popular is head tutor Mark Devonshire, from Cornwall, who joined 10 weeks ago.

He brought a wealth of culinary knowledge and experience with him after spending the past 14 years working at the television chef Rick Stein's cookery school.

When I visited he was teaching a group of budding chefs, some of whom had no experience. He said: "This morning some of these people had never cooked before but just taking a look at some of the loaves which have been produced, they have done terrifically well."

For more on the courses, call 01386 751600 or visit www.eckingtonmanor.co.uk