The SCOTY competition is open to all kitchen-based staff involved in the daily preparation of pupils’ meals in schools across the UK whether from a local authority or contract-catered site, managed in-house, academy school or part of a Multi-Academy Trust.
The national final will once again be held at the LACA Main Event on Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th July at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole with the overall winner announced on the evening of Thursday 6th July.
At the national final, the 2023 national winner will receive a £1,000 cash prize, the 2023 LACA School Chef of the Year trophy and an invitation to a calendar of catering industry events. The national second and third place winners will receive £500 and £300 respectively.
Tom Armstrong, employed by Mellors Catering Services and chef manager at Shelley College in Huddersfield, won the 2022 SCOTY competition. He served up Tandoori Quorn & Onion Bhaji in the ‘Grab and Go’ class before going on to deliver an Indian spiced Quorn Cottage Pie, served with crushed Bombay potatoes, butter sauce and greens. His dessert of Coconut milk panna cotta with mango puree and freeze dried raspberries completed the meal.
Sarah Robb, foodservice marketing manager at Premier Foods, 2023 competition sponsor 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 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. The Premier Foods foodservice team work with chefs across the UK and we’ll be encouraging as many as possible to get involved and submit an entry. It’s a great way to test and develop your skills whilst potentially putting your school on the map.”
REGISTER TO TAKE PART IN SCOTY 2023 HERE.
Competition schedule:
- Entry pack forms available online by end November 2022
- Registration deadline – Friday 27th January 2023
- Deadline for entries to be received – Friday 2nd March 2023
- Paper judging by Friday 24th March 2023
- Regional finalists notified by Friday 31st March 2023
- Deadline for revised forms – Friday 15th April 2023
- Regional Finals – late April to June 2023
- National Final – Wednesday 5th & Thursday 6th July 2023 at LACA Main Event