Imperial Catering & Hatco raises over £5k for UK FutureChef

The bash on Tuesday 2nd March will take place at the Royal Exchange and will include a prize auction hosted by TV chef Brian Turner, chairman of the FutureChef - a four-stage nationwide culinary programme helping young people aged 12-16 learn to cook and inspire them about the industry. There will be an instant win raffle for signed chefs cook books, a year's membership with the Craft Guild of Chefs and many more prizes presented in jewellery boxes, in keeping with the jewellery emporiums surrounding the venue. Imperial director Mark Poultney said: "We are firmly behind FutureChef's commitment to providing an insight into the world of professional cooking by capturing imagination, recognising talent and providing a platform to launch a fabulous career. We will make sure everyone gets into the true spirit of the evening and we manage to raise as much as possible for Springboard on the night." Now in its 10th year, FutureChef was developed as a result of research findings into young people's perceptions of the industry. The research revealed that young people admire high-profile and celebrity chefs yet, surprisingly, few genuinely considered a career as a chef. As a national programme, FutureChef continues to grow with a record numbers of schools, competitors and chefs involved for 2009/10. This year's competition sees 715 schools from throughout the UK participating, culminating in the national final at Westminster Kingsway College on March 22nd when the UK FutureChef for 2010 will be crowned.