More than 40 entries were whittled down to a final 20, and these select few will sit the first exam held simultaneously at Sheffield College and the Cardinal Wiseman School in Greenford, Middlesex, on June 11. The semi-finalists are:

London Heat
Ruth Hansom, The Ritz, apprentice
Reece Cosier, Landmark Hotel, demi chef de partie
Wayne Herrington, Landmark Hotel, junior sous chef
Victoria Scupham, Royal Household, demi chef de partie
Amrik Modher, Cinnamon Kitchen, grill chef
Nicholas Cottrell, Dolphin House Brazzerie, head chef
Harvey Noy, Scott’s Restaurant, commis chef
John Grabecki, Galvin@Windows, senior chef de partie
Sam Levi, Saunton Sands Hotel, commis chef
Aleksandar Todorov, Sushisamba, demi chef

Sheffield heat
Connor Godfrey, The Ritz, demi chef de partie
Tom Lawson, Rafters Restaurant, chef patron
Matthew Ramsdale, The Lime Kiln, sous chef
Joe Bose, House of Commons, commis chef
Ross McMillan, Stirling Management Centre, chef de partie
Andrew Fyfe, Stirling Management Centre, chef de partie
Oliver Snowden, General Torleton, chef de partie
James Newton, Royal Garden Hotel, chef de partie
Andre Rhone, Deloitte, chef de partie
William Breese, Dehesa, commis chef

The final exam takes place at University College Birmingham on August 28, with the awards ceremony being held at the Landmark Hotel in London on September 5.

For more information, visit www.craftguildofchefs.org or call 0209 948 3870.