The LACA School Chef of the Year competition, which is sponsored by Bisto from Premier Foods, asks chefs to prepare, cook and present four portions of a main course and dessert with a total food cost of £1.70 per head in 90 minutes that meet the School Food Standards and Eat Well Guide.
The winner of each of the ten regional finals will receive £100 and advance to the national final, which is being held at the LACA Main Event on Tuesday 8th and Wednesday 9th July at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole.
School catering providers can register for free entry to the School Food Show, taking place alongside the Main Event this July and see the SCOTY finalists in action.
The overall winner will receive a £1,000 cash prize, the 2025 LACA School Chef of the Year trophy and an invitation to a calendar of catering industry events. Second and third place at the national final will receive £500 and £300 respectively.
Sadia Allam, foodservice channel controller at Premier Foods, said: “LACA School Chef of the Year has been one of the highlights of the school catering calendar for many years and so we are excited that Bisto is sponsoring the event again this year.
“We’ll be supporting and celebrating the chefs who get involved throughout the process and can’t wait to be part of the judging panel to help find the next star of school meals. It’s a great way to test and develop your skills whilst potentially putting your school on the map.”
The SCOTY regional finalists include:
East of England, Tuesday 11th March (two heats): Brakes Kitchen in Reading
- Erin Ward: Impact Food Group
- Eloise Peltier: Impact Food Group
- Sean Chasney: Impact Food Group
- Dilyana Merev: Impact Food Group
- Amber Carter-Burch: Aspens Catering
- Aron Jordan: Autism Anglia
- Nikki Barnard: Norse Group
- Jana Jarrett: Lunchtime
London, Wednesday 12th March (morning): Brakes Kitchen in Reading
- Terry Howard: Chefs in Schools
- Asmaa Abdelrhman: Impact Food Group
- Godfrey Gama: Juniper Ventures
- Ushane Royal: Nourish Catering
South East, Wednesday 12th March (afternoon): Brakes Kitchen in Reading
- Mark Kent: Impact Food Group
- Andy Lidster: Impact Food Group
- Lisa Molloy: Nourish Catering
West Midlands, Wednesday 9th April (morning): Rational kitchen in Cannock
- Lee Taylor: Alliance in Partnership
- Rob Jordan: Matrix Academy Trust
- Michael Tafft: Telford & Wrekin Council
North West, Wednesday 9th April (afternoon): Rational kitchen in Cannock
- Steven Rhodes-Heaton: Bury Metropolitan Borough Council
Wales, Wednesday 9th April (afternoon): Rational kitchen in Cannock
- Duygu Dee Karakus: Big Fresh Catering Company
- Joanne Cox: Chartwells
East Midlands, Thursday 10th April (morning): Rational kitchen in Cannock
- Ghyslain Pramayon: Impact Food Group
- Joanne Duggan: Nottinghamshire County Council
- Charlotte Boulton: Nottinghamshire County Council
Yorkshire & Humberside, Thursday 1st May (morning): Barnsley College
- Rob Darbyshire: Dolce
- Kevan Bell: Mellors Catering
- Jennifer Haigh: Nottinghamshire County Council
- Simon McCarthy: Trinity Academy, Leeds
North East & Scotland, Thursday 1st May (afternoon): Barnsley College
- Richard Hardy: Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust
- Ben Finn: Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust
- Steven Million: Pele Trust
- Michael Clements: Pele Trust
- Malachy Rowe: Pele Trust
South West, Thursday 8th May (afternoon): Weston College
- Ryan King: Aspens Catering
- Harry Dumaresq: Local Food Links
- Gary Dutson: Midsummer Norton Partnership
- Tasha Watts: Strode College/Crispin Academy