LACA School Chef of the Year 2025 winner announced
Erin Ward from Impact Food Group has been crowned the LACA School Chef of the Year 2025 national champion, taking home the prestigious trophy and £1,000 prize.
The education catering industry's top competition concluded this week at an awards ceremony held at Birmingham’s Hilton Metropole, at the LACA Main Event with Erin emerging victorious from a field of 12 talented regional champions.
As well as £1,000 and the 2025 LACA School Chef of the Year trophy, the national winner also received an invitation to a calendar of catering industry events.
Second place went to Ben Finn from Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust and third place to Malachy Pharncote-Rowe from Pele Trust, who received £500 and £300 respectively.
The competition is the flagship event for school chefs to showcase their professional skills. It has been organised annually for over two decades by LACA - The School Food People and is sponsored by Bisto, owned by Premier Foods.
Each of the 12 finalists had an equal chance of winning the education catering industry's top competition award for 2025.
The 12 regional champions who competed for the national title are:
Charlotte Boulton, Nottinghamshire County Council (East Midlands)
Aron Jordan, Autism Anglia (East of England)
Erin Ward, Impact Food Group (East of England - wildcard)
Asmaa Abdelrhma, Impact Food Group (London)
Ben Finn, Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust (North East & Scotland)
Malachy Pharncote-Rowe, Pele Trust (North East & Scotland – wildcard)
Steven Rhodes-Heaton, Bury Metropolitan Borough Council (North West)
Mark Kent, Impact Food Group (South East)
Ryan King, Aspens Catering (South West)
Joanne Cox, Chartwells (Wales)
Michael Tafft, Telford & Wrekin Council (West Midlands)
Jennifer Haigh, Nottinghamshire County Council (Yorkshire and Humberside)
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The LACA School Chef of the Year 2025 competition was open to all kitchen-based staff involved in the daily preparation of pupils' meals in schools across the UK.
Regional competitors from local authorities, contract-catered sites, in-house, academy schools and Multi-Academy Trusts were challenged to prepare, cook and present four portions of a main course and dessert with a total food cost of £1.70 per head, which was the same for the finals. The 90-minute challenge also had to meet School Food Standards and the Eat Well Guide.
Judith Gregory, LACA national chair said: “This year’s finalists have once again raised the bar, showcasing the creativity, skill and passion that make school food such a vital part of children’s lives.
"Erin demonstrated outstanding culinary expertise and a real understanding of what truly engages and excites pupils."
Erin Ward said: “I am overwhelmed, I wasn’t expecting it at all. This is my first year doing SCOTY. I didn’t expect to get through the paper entry and I didn’t win my final, I was a wildcard.
"I am shocked and super proud that I won it. I am super excited.
“It went surprisingly well. My nerves were against me but I pushed through and got in the zone and just tried to cook. I enjoyed myself and I am proud I put myself through it for the experience and winning is a lovely outcome.
“I made pork bao buns, which is something we love to eat at home, and I know the kids at school love street food. To help get vegetables in I did a rainbow slaw and I used a sauce using all the spring onions and carrots to minimise waste and maximise yield.
“The dessert was made to get children excited about being healthy. The novelty factor helped sell it to the children.”
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LACA School Chef of the Year 2025 winner announced
