David McKown, director at Skills for Chefs, commented: “We are always aiming to change things at the conference; the last big change was when we decided to use the new facilities at Sheffield City College, and this year we are including international chefs in the business programme. To attract an international culinary star is really exciting for the conference.”

One of the big names is two Michelin-starred restaurant chef Jordi Cruz from Barcelona, who will be on stage at the culinary theatre on July 10.

In 2010, Cruz took the lead of ABaC Restaurant & Hotel, which was named Best Restaurant of Catalonia 2011 by the Catalan Academy of Gastronomy. He is the author of ‘Cooking with logic, technique and concepts in the kitchen of Estany Clar’ – the restaurant where he received his first Michelin star in 2004 and at 25 years old claimed to be the youngest chef in the country and second in the world to receive this award. He is now writing his second book about his style of cuisine.

Also presenting at the conference will be Martin Lippo from Argentina and Angel Salvador from Spain, with further announcements scheduled over the next few weeks. Renowned chef Paul Gayler will open the conference with a keynote address.

For more information, visit www.skillsforchefs.co.uk