The Craft Guild of Chefs College and University Accreditation scheme was launched in July 2020 and is a mark of the high standards achieved by the accredited sites.

To achieve the accreditation lecturers and students at The Sheffield College were interviewed in addition to skills training sessions being observed to ensure they met the strict criteria required by the Craft Guild of Chefs to pass.

The day also included an assessment of the Silver Plate Restaurant at Sheffield College and was conducted by David McKown, a member of the Management Committee at the Craft Guild of Chefs.

David McKown, chief assessor, commented: "The Sheffield College offers an excellent teaching faculty with fantastic kitchens well equipped to develop great chefs of the future. In the Silver Plate they have a great training restaurant that provides an essential platform for the development of careers.”

As the leading chef association in the UK, The Craft Guild of Chefs is committed to increasing the standards of professional cooking through greater awareness, education, and training. It is keen to do more to inspire the next generation of chefs at a grassroots level, which is why it launched the accreditation programme.

Len Unwin, curriculum team leader for catering and hospitality at The Sheffield College, said: “Here at The Sheffield College we are so proud to be accredited by the Craft Guild of Chefs for our catering and hospitality provision. We pride ourselves on our fabulous students who constantly push themselves to go further in the work they do in college, competitions and industry.

“We are very fortunate to have some amazing links within the hospitality industry who have supported us with events including an afternoon tea with The Langham Hotel’s, executive pastry chef Andrew Gravett, dinners with former students including Dan Ashmore, group executive chef, Dean Banks Restaurants, Adam Smith, Coworth Park (part of The Dorchester Collection) and Dan Smith of The Peacock at Rowsley.

“The events provide our students with the opportunity to see different sides of the industry and to showcase their skills. The College is also fortunate to have great academy leaders with MSK Ingredients and Greene King who constantly support and guide our students to help them achieve and sometimes surpass their potential.”

The scheme is aimed at colleges and universities that want to benefit from the association’s decades of experience and to tap into its extensive network of chefs by associating their faculty with the Craft Guild of Chefs name. It also offers colleges access to high profile chefs who can be asked to become guest speakers and College Patrons.