It has shaped the future of so many talented chefs including Luke Selby, Ruth Hansom, current Young National Chef of the Year (YNCOTY) Jonny Smith and Great British Menu Champion of Champions Amber Francis.

Previous participants of the Graduate Awards talk about it opening doors to promotions, new career opportunities and an increase in confidence, both in and out of the kitchen. Chefs who achieve this rigorous award will progress to the 2026 YNCOTY semi-finals, with the highest achiever seeded straight to the national final.

All finalists in the Graduate Awards will enjoy an exclusive two-day culinary experience in July, where they’ll connect with top suppliers, gain expert insights into the final tasks through live demonstrations, and network with like-minded chefs who share their passion and ambition.

Many previous candidates also highlight the friendships and professional connections formed during this process, which support them throughout their careers.

The entry deadline has been extended until midnight on Monday 7th April 2025 and chefs can apply for either the Kitchen or Pastry Exam. The entry process is simple and takes just minutes to complete online.

This year’s Kitchen semi-finalists will have the opportunity to cook for Chair of Examiners Ben Murphy who is a former National Chef of the Year winner and the Pastry Award will be led by Sarah Frankland, executive chef at Pennyhill Park Hotel & Spa.

Steve Munkley, founder of the Graduate Awards and vice-president of the Craft Guild of Chefs, urges young chefs to grab this opportunity: “We know this is a challenging time for the industry for many reasons and that’s why it’s more important than ever we develop young chefs’ skills and give them opportunities to showcase their talents.

“The Graduate Awards provide an ideal platform for chefs who are in the early stages of their careers who want that next level of experience and opportunity. With just one week to go until the final deadline, I encourage everyone to share this with chefs who meet the age criteria.” 

The Graduate Awards is sponsored by The London Meat Co, Oranka, Savoy Educational Trust, Reynolds, Meiko UK, Essential Cuisine, City and Guilds, Robert Welch, James Knight of Mayfair, Worshipful Company of Cooks, CCE London Ltd, University of West London, Lakeland Dairies, Grande Cuisine, The Caterer, Maldon Salt, NOWAH, Daregal Gourmet, TUGO, HIT Training and Belazu.