Steve Smith
Steve has worked in and led some of the top kitchens in the country and at 24, was the youngest chef to gain a Michelin star.
He has held a Michelin star in the UK for ten years, as well as its equivalent ‘Hat’ in Australia.
Making this achievement even greater, Steve has earned the coveted star across four different restaurants.
Having attended North Warwickshire College of Technology and Art, Steve’s first position was at Provence at Gordleton Mill, Hampshire under Head Chef Jean-Christophe Novelli.
Following a move to Gidliegh Park in Devon, and a year at Paul Heathcotes, Steve was invited back to work for Jean Christophe, now at Four Seasons. During his two years at Four Seasons, Steve honed his skills with some of the most influential chefs in England, paving the way for Steve himself to become one of the top chefs in the country.
Mick Burke, Senior Chef Lecturer, Sheffield City College
Cooking had always been a passion for Mick Burke. He was one of the first boys at his school to study home economics. Embarking on a catering career was an unusual choice for a young man at that time. Growing up in Bolton-on-Dearne in South Yorkshire, his father and uncles were miners and many of his contemporaries also went down the pit.
After leaving school, Mick attended college in Rotherham and Sheffield to train to be a chef. He then worked at the five-star Claridges Hotel in London, at the four-star Grosvenor House Hotel in Sheffield and at a fine dining hotel called Punches in Doncaster.
Mick, now aged 55, joined the then Granville College, now Sheffield City College 31 years-ago. During that time, he has taught 1000s of young people who have gone onto become professional chefs, and has built up a distinguished reputation.
The Sheffield City College catering team has won many regional and national awards, thanks to the dedication and skills of Mick and his colleagues who have built excellent connections to the industry that lead to valuable work placements and job opportunities for those they teach.
Recent wins for staff and students include the Ecole Hoteliere Provinciale de Namur, a competition for all the catering schools in the European Union organised by Belgium’s best catering school; Master Chefs young pastry Chef of the year 2009, Brake Brothers gold medal team gold medal winner and a silver medal at La Parade des Chefs at Hotelympia in London after being the only college to take part. Students regularly serve at prestigious events. These have included the Master Chefs annual dinner, attended by all the major chefs in London, as well as producing canapés for the Chef of the year Dinner.
