Nico Simeone worked as a chef in some of Scotland's finest Michelin star restaurants before a chance encounter changed his life forever.

After opening his restaurant Simply Fish in Kelvinside, Nico, who has worked at Number One in Edinburgh and Glasgow's Brian Maule, posted a job advert for a kitchen porter on Gumtree.

It was to be a life changing moment as within two and a half minutes Modou Diagme had replied.

Modou, who is originally from Senegal, was living in a homeless shelter and had been unable to find a job for a year and a half after moving to Scotland from Tenerife, where he had lived with his father.

Nico said: "Modou came over and was hunting for a job for about a year and a half but nobody would hire him because of his English.

"He just couldn't get a job anywhere."

Nico was immediately struck by Modou's work ethic and quickly took him under his wing.

He helped Modou get out of the shelter he was living in, gave him a full-time job at his restaurant and started teaching him to cook.

Nico said: "Modou came to me as a kitchen porter and just worked away and I noticed him work ethic. He just picked it up and learned fast.

"He was probably the most valuable member of staff I've ever had since working, he's never let me down.

"He appreciated life more than anyone I knew but he had nothing.

"He was just so appreciative, genuinely didn't have a bad bone in his body.

"He's one of the nicest people I've ever met, he just wanted to come and work hard. He's one in a million."

Nico's decision to train Modou provided the spark for the Glasgow chef's latest venture, 111 by Nico, a cook school and restaurant in Kelvinside that gives opportunities to disadvantaged people.

The restaurant, which has been praised by customers and critics, offers Michelin standard food at affordable prices and provides a training ground for Nico's team of budding chefs.

Nico says the opportunity to help those less fortunate than himself has made him happier and he is confident that his training will prepare would-be chefs for jobs in top kitchens across Scotland within three months.

He said: "The idea came from Modou and it grew from there.

"We wanted to create a unique dining experience but in the background have this apprenticeship programme supporting it. It's all about the restaurant, the food and the service first and foremost but in the background is this apprenticeship scheme.

"It's changed me as a person.

"Before I thought money created the world, I just wanted to be successful and make lots of money, that was why I wanted a restaurant.

"Whereas now I'm not bothered about it, it's more that I want to go to work happy everyday, I want to help people.

"I think this has worked in my favour because before I was always scared of what the consumers thought.

"However, when I opened I said I want to create a restaurant that I would love.

"I do my style of food set up my way, if people don't like it that's fine, I wasn't scared.

"I've done 111 by Nico with no fear and in a way that I wanted to do food."

The restaurant opened on the site of Nico's Simply Fish restaurant in September and has already offered apprenticeships to people from a variety of different backgrounds.

However, he's clear that a place at the cook school is not an easy option.

He said: "As I say to people before they come in, this is not a golden ticket, it'll take lots of hard work and hours and lots of commitment but it can be very rewarding and it can change their lives.

"A couple have stayed on and progressed well but others have dropped out. It's difficult when that happens. Knock backs make you wonder why you're doing it but I'm doing it to try and find the one or two people a year who I can genuinely make a difference to.

"It's all about attitude. I'd never ask them to do something I wouldn't do myself. I wouldn't say I'm too good or I'm above that.

"The main thing is they've all come from the bottom but they've never forgotten where they've come from."

Modou has worked his way up under Nico to head chef and is now training apprentices at 111.

Nico said: "I'm obviously very proud. Because Modou's got no family I feel responsible for him and I look after him. He's a friend of the family now.

"I just feel very proud of him.

"I've obviously helped him but what he's done for me is he's never let me down, he's never late and he gives me 100%, I couldn't ask for any more."

Nico is now hoping to expand his new business and open another restaurant in Scotland which will be run by Modou.

He added: "I'd love to set up another restaurant and give Modou an identity in that restaurant and carry on the brand, the same ethos but have him in control.

"It's something I want to expand more.

"I want to set up the individuals I bring through, it's a dream of mine.

"If we've got five of these around Scotland and you're training people, even if you get 10 people through the restaurants a year and you're changing their lives then it's worthwhile.

"It would be a great achievement, expanding while helping these people and having them as part of the expansion process would be amazing."

111 by Nico is at 111 Cleveden Drive, Kelvinside, Glasgow. Prices start at £17 for two courses.