The Craft Guild of Chefs has today announced that the deadline for the 15th annual Graduate Awards has been extended until Friday, May 12, 2017.

This is to provide as many young chefs as possible the chance to get involved with the awards, which help develop basic culinary skills. It’s a career-changing opportunity for those who make the grade with the 2017 Graduates being revealed at a glittering ceremony in September.

Steve Munkley, Founder of the Graduate Awards said: “It’s a very special time for the Graduate Awards as we celebrate our 15th year and I feel it’s important we give as many chefs as we can the opportunity to be part of this event. We’ve seen previous Graduates go on to have fantastic careers including working in Michelin-starred kitchens and winning national competitions such as Young National Chef of the Year. There’s often talk about lack of skills in our industry but these awards really help a young chef improve and showcases the culinary talent the UK has to offer.”

To enter the awards, chefs should complete the online or paper entry form in the next week. Shortlisted chefs will be invited to North or South heats in June to try and get a place in the final examination which takes place in Birmingham in August. Successful chefs will also benefit from a fantastic mentoring scheme, including away-days in July and on-the-job support from their workplace mentor.

Amber Francis was the Highest Achiever in the 2016 Awards and added: “I’ve recently received a Rising Star Award from the Craft Guild of Chefs and accepted my place in the final of Young National Chef of the Year. This is just one example of how achieving the Graduate Award has helped me develop as a chef and got my name seen and heard amongst the industry.”

The Graduate Awards were founded in 2002 by Vice-President, Steve Munkley, after he saw a real need in the industry to provide formal recognition of young chefs’ culinary excellence. Chefs can benefit from the new entry deadline in both the Kitchen and Pastry Graduate examination, providing they are aged 23 or under.

To enter the Graduate Awards, chefs simply need to complete the online or downloadable form at http://bit.ly/GraduateAwards2 before 11.59pm on Friday, May 12, 2017.

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