Disley-Jones from Pensby High School in Merseyside cooked her way to the title with a menu of chicken with sundried tomatoes and chorizo mousse, followed by a dessert of baked pear and raspberry sorbet.
She said: “I entered FutureChef because I saw what past winners had achieved and I wanted the chance to do the same. It’s amazing to have won and I feel FutureChef will give me lots of opportunities for employment.”
The national final took place at Westminster Kingsway College, London on Monday 14th March with 12 finalists competing to be crowned FutureChef Winner 2016.
Springboard’s FutureChef, is a nationwide culinary initiative delivered in nearly 600 schools nationwide. The main goal of FutureChef is to help young people aged 12-16 to learn the vital life skills of cooking and understanding nutrition, as well as insight into building a career within hospitality.
Dee Smith, Springboard’s regional director for London South-East, said: “Congratulations to all of our hard-working, committed finalists – they have all been part of a great FutureChef.
“It really is amazing to see the quality of work by young chefs improve year on year, the talent we see as a result of the Springboard FutureChef initiative is remarkable and Bethan is a true winner.”
Disley-Jones will now enjoy an experience at Henley Regatta in July 2016 courtesy of sponsor Sodexo, who will work behind the scenes at the events, and will join her and her parents for dinner, a boat trip on the Thames and a day’s racing, along with accommodation.
She also receives a year’s student membership to the Craft Guild of Chefs and her school will receive £400 of vouchers courtesy of Lockhart Catering Equipment and the mentor chef a commemorative plate.
Judges included head judge David Mulcahy, of Sodexo UK & Ireland; Steve Munkley, of Royal Garden Hotel; Mark Sargeant, of BaxterStorey; Will Torrent, of Waitrose; and Cyrus Todiwala.
The full list of finalists is as follows:
- Central and South Scotland – Courtney McDowell, 16, City of Glasgow College
- East Midlands – Yasmina Lock, 13, Ratcliffe College, Leicester
- East of England – Emily Eves, 13, Hartismere School, Suffolk
- North East – Abbie Frost, 15, Beverley High School, East Yorkshire
- Northern Ireland – Katie Russell, 14, Banbridge Academy, County Down
- South West – Madi Cole, 13, Penrice Academy, St. Austell
- Wales – Imogen Charles, 14, Bishop of Llandaff School, Cardiff
- West Midlands – Abigail Phipps, 13, Kingsmead School, Staffordshire
- North West – Bethan Disley-Jones, 14, Pensby High School, Merseyside
- North Scotland – Connor Duncan, 16, Menie Golf Academy, Aberdeenshire
- London – Phoebe Reeves, 15, Tanbridge House School,
- South East – Sophie Holman, 14, Bromley College, Orpington