This year’s theme is ‘Going Global with World Cuisine’, offering entrants the opportunity to celebrate the multicultural influences within Britain.

The UK-wide competition provides a great opportunity for all full time hospitality and catering college students to showcase their culinary skills whilst developing ‘real life’ catering skills.

This year’s competition is supported by a dedicated website (www.brakesstudentchef.co.uk) where contestants can enter online. Other interactive online features include a Twitter page, a Facebook page and a YouTube channel featuring an interview with head judge Christopher Basten, along with interviews and information on last year’s winning team from The Manchester College.

To enter, lecturers must submit a menu, methodology and a costed list of ingredients.

Teams must consist of three full time catering and hospitality college students, and will be judged on their interpretation of the ‘Going Global with World Cuisine’ theme. Judges will also be seeking dishes that display a high level of culinary skill, reflect current trends, demonstrate great technique and are presented with style. The menu requirements are three courses for four covers with a £10 per head budget limit. Menus should be well balanced and prepared within 1 hour 45 minutes.

If shortlisted from the first round of paper judging, the teams will be invited to compete in a live cook-off at one of six regional heats. The winning team from each heat along with the overall best runner up will progress to the live competition final, held as part of ScotHot 2013, at the SECC Glasgow.

The winning team will receive a five-day work placement hosted by Christopher Basten, vice chairman of the Craft of Guild Chefs, a six-piece Global Knife set and the coveted winners plaque as well as a commemorative award plate, medals and certificates. Prizes are also awarded to all competition final and regional heat competitors.