The 2024 winners from each region will now go on to compete in the national final, taking place at Westminster Kingsway College in London on Monday 18th March 2024.
The school-based programme across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, ‘inspires’ pupils to develop their culinary talent and supports pupils with entry routes into careers in the kitchen.
More than 13,000 young teenagers across 12 regions went head-to-head in the competition over the last 12 months, with 81 of them making it to the regional finals – which challenged them to prepare a main course and dessert for two people in 90 minutes.
The dishes were judged by a panel of industry professionals, including Michelin star chefs James Sommerin, Adam Handling and Nieves Barragan, as well as more than 300 chefs from across the UK’s hotels, restaurants and catering venues.
Chris Gamm, chief executive of Springboard, said: “It is more important than ever to keep the prospect of a career in hospitality at the forefront of the minds of students, teachers, and parents, and the Springboard FutureChef competition has played a massive role in this over the past 25 years, with more than 225,000 students taking part during that time.
“By introducing young talent to the world of hospitality and allowing them to experience the level of creativity that comes with it, the competition has enabled many talented young individuals to enter the industry and discover their passions for what the sector offers. Competitions like these are critical because they bring in talented and motivated workers while promoting the industry. It is also great to see competitors having fun and doing what they love.”
This year’s Springboard FutureChef 2024 regional winners, are:
- North Scotland region winner, Domhnall Bruce, 14 years old, from Portree High School, Isle of Skye.
- Central and South Scotland region winner, Eva Brodie, 15 years old, from Portobello High School, Edinburgh.
- North East region winner, Iris Bedford, 13 years old, from Rodillian Academy, Leeds.
- North West region winner, Millie Jo Lomax, 15 years old, from Poynton High School, Manchester.
- East Midlands region winner, Ella Lovejoy, 16 years old, from Toot Hill School, Nottingham.
- West Midlands region winner, Josh Hurd, 15 years old, from Newcastle Academy, Newcastle Under Lyme.
- East of England region winner, Lola Sycamore, 16 years old, from Comberton Village College, Cambridge.
- Wales region winner, Carys Williams, 15 years old, from Pontarddulais School, Swansea.
- South West region winner, Freya Barrett, 16 years old, from Penrice Academy, Cornwall.
- South East region winner, Pippa Cooper, 16 years old, from Priory School.
- London region winner, Reece Ventura, 15 years old, from St Philomena Catholic School for Girls.
- Northern Ireland region winner, Alex Scates, 13 years old, from St. Columbanus School, Bangor.