Our priorities are changing on a daily basis as we deal with any number of issues where we are making difficult decisions which affect us all as well as our families and friends.

In the face of these challenges we are already witnessing some amazing gestures of kindness and goodwill, coming together as a community and supporting each other at this time.

With many events being delayed or cancelled our focus is on making sure that we do all in our power to assist and support those in the most need. 

Being a resilient and resourceful industry we will come through this and look to the future.

In terms of National and Young National Chef of the Year, I am conscious that there have been a number of queries regarding any changes to dates and plans for this year’s competition programme. NCOTY has been running for almost 50 Years and we are proud of the legacy and how important it is to chefs across the UK and beyond.

Given the situation today and level of uncertainty for the coming weeks and months, we will do everything to be as flexible as possible regarding dates and any changes necessary.

Please be assured we have your interests at heart and will publish changes as they happen. In the meantime please look out for updates, stay safe and look out for each other.

David Mulcahy, vice president of the Craft Guild of Chefs, created a short video to update chefs, partners and supporters of the NCOTY and YNOCTY competitions: https://youtu.be/HbL6d3pIr-c