Le Cordon Bleu | London | Scholarship finalists 2016

Le Cordon Bleu London have named this year's 14 finalists who will battle it out on Thursday, June 2 to win the UK Scholarship Award 2016.

Over the last month the team at Le Cordon Bleu London have been running the semi final stages of their 5th UK scholarship Award, which this year hopes to tackle the shortage of chefs in the industry.

Meeting with all 37 semi finalists across the five regions of the UK, candidates were judged on their passion for pâtisserie by a panel made up of Le Cordon Bleu Master Chefs alongside the partnering chef in each location:

Will Holland for Wales and the Midlands, Simon Hulstone for the South West, Anna Hansen for London and the South East, Mark Greenaway for Scotland and Northern Ireland and Frances Atkins for the North.

Loic Malfait, Academic Director at Le Cordon Bleu London and member of the scholarship judging panel says: “It’s been a pleasure partnering with the chefs from each region, all of whom have played a key role in helping us find passionate and hard working candidates.

"This year the calibre of applicant has been fantastically high, which means the final is going to be tough!

"All the candidates at this stage have what it takes to win which will make our job even harder, but ultimately we are looking for someone who has a love for pâtisserie and is looking for a long term career in the industry.”

The finalists are:

Worth over £35,000 the award will offer the one lucky winner a place on the coveted Diplôme de Pâtisserie followed by a three month Diploma in Culinary Management, and includes luxury accommodation in central London courtesy of our partner Urbanest and an internship with Clare Smyth MBE, at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant, Hospital Road, Chelsea where Clare has been Head Chef for the past six years and became the first British female chef to hold and retain 3 Michelin Stars.

The final stage of the competition will take places on Thursday, 2 June 2016, at the prestigious culinary arts, wine and management school, Le Cordon Bleu London.

With over 120 year’s heritage, Le Cordon Bleu has built a worldwide reputation in the hospitality and gastronomy industry. With their annual UK Scholarship Award the prestigious culinary school hopes to nurture the best emerging talent in the UK, by teaching them traditional skills and a deep understanding of the latest trends and culinary developments.

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