The UK hospitality sector welcomed 21 newly qualified chefs on Monday 30th March, as the latest cohort of students celebrated graduation from the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts’ Specialised Chefs Programme at an event at The Langham in London’s West End.

The new graduates join a formidable network of alumni now working in some of the country's most celebrated kitchens, including Claridge’s, The Dorchester and Chewton Glen. The course demands not just technical perfection, but dedication, resilience, creativity and clear communication.

The class of 2025 will hope to follow in the footsteps of former apprentices such as Deepak Mallya, who began his journey on the scholarship back in 2011 and was recently appointed head chef at The Ritz London.

To reach graduation day, apprentices combined practical experience in prestigious kitchens, including The Goring, Rosewood and the Royal Household, with advanced theory and training in classical techniques, delivered in Bournemouth.

Earning the much-coveted Diploma in Professional Cookery also required passing a rigorous six-hour practical exam held at the College in July 2025. For more information about the Specialised Chefs Apprenticeship Scholarship, visit: www.thecollege.co.uk/chefs.

Phil Sayles, principal of Bournemouth and Poole College, said: "This programme is the perfect embodiment of what our college sets out to achieve, and watching these young chefs graduate today fills me with immense pride.

“It strikes right at the heart of our core purposes. Through our close partnership with RACA, we are helping individuals improve their lives through exceptional training, while enabling the UK's top kitchens to recruit the talent they need."