Culinary scholarship launched by Le Cordon Bleu London

Le Cordon Bleu London has announced the launch of its 2015 Scholarship Award, worth over £35,000. The grant will be awarded to a successful aspiring chef, offering the chance to study at the London flagship campus. 

The winner will be awarded the Diplôme de Cuisine, followed by a three month Diploma in Culinary management.

Président of Le Cordon Bleu, André Cointreau, said: “The programme takes students on a cross-cultural journey that inspires excellence, innovation and enrichment to pursue their ambitions and a successful career.”

The Scholarship Award is open to any UK resident aged 18 or over. Applicants will be required to upload a short video of themselves talking about the passion for their region and their interest in cuisine.

The successful applicants will then invited to a semi-final round in their region. Scotland and Northern Ireland semi-finals will take place at Gleneagles Hotel with Andrew Fairlie. The welsh semi-finals will take place at Celtic Manor with Michael Bates; northern semi-finals at the House of Tides with Kenny Atkinson and the London and South semi-finals at Trinity, with Adam Byatt.

Finalists will be invited to Le Cordon Bleu London institute, where a winner will be chosen by a panel of Le Cordon Bleu’s academic committee and some of the institute’s most renowned chefs.

The scholarship includes accommodation in central London courtesy of student accommodation company Urbanest at their King’s Cross location and an internship at two-michelin-starred The Square, under the guidance of head chef Phil Howard.

Phil said: “The Scholarship award is an incredible project recognising UK’s talent.  I am delighted to work closely with Le Cordon Bleu and contribute to one aspiring chefs’ education in the culinary arts.”

Simon Hedley from Urbanest said: “By providing an unrivalled living experience in zone 1, the winner can be sure their focus will truly be in developing their culinary talents through the Diplôme de Cuisine and Diploma in Culinary Management.”

Previous partners of Le Cordon Bleu scholarship include establishments Tom’s Kitchen (Tom Aikens, 2012), our featured chef Pierre Koffmann at Koffmann at the Berkley Hotel (2013) and The Ritz (John Williams, 2014).

For more information and to upload an entry visit ukscholarship.cordonbleu.edu. For more information about Urbanest, visit their website.

By Ashley Chalmers