Steve was executive head chef at The Royal Garden Hotel for over 23 years and where he managed a brigade of 60 talented chefs who provided up to 2,000 covers a day.

The Graduate Awards were founded, and are still led, by Steve Munkley. He wanted to provide chefs in the early stages of their career with the opportunity to develop the skills they learnt at college and refine them in the workplace.

Over the last two decades, the Guild has seen an incredible 93 chefs achieve the pass mark and join an impressive list of names in the Graduate Awards ‘hall of fame’. Former achievers of the award include Mark Froydenlund, Sophie Wright, Luke Selby and Ruth Hansom who have all gone on to have successful culinary careers.

Education and Training Award, Sponsored by Liberty Wines, nominees include:

• Hilary Cooke, Merlin Business Consultancy
• Peter Jones, Peter Jones International Hospitality Consultancy
• Steve Munkley, Craft Guild of Chefs
• Adele Oxberry, Umbrella Training
• Jill Whittaker, HIT Training

The winners will be revealed at an event on 4th July at JW Marriott Grosvenor House London.