Springboard FutureChef

#ThrowbackThursday ✨ Here are some highlights from Monday’s incredible Springboard FutureChef National Final 2026 👨‍🍳🏆 We crowned Kate from North Scotland as our champion, with 11 outstanding young chefs showcasing exceptional talent, creativity and passion throughout the day. A truly unforgettable competition! 🌟 #springboardfuturechef #YoungChefs #Hospitality CookingCompetition

Following Monday’s final of the 2026 Springboard FutureChef competition, we’re excited to share the results! 👏 Huge congratulations to Kate Skinner (North Scotland), crowned this year’s FutureChef Champion 🏆 Rya Smith (Wales) took 1st Runner Up, with Ren Hopkin (East Midlands) securing 2nd Runner Up. A special shoutout to Jessica Klapsia (South West), winner of the prestigious Brian Turner Award for Taste – an incredible achievement 🌟 Now in its 27th year, FutureChef continues to play a vital role in developing the next generation of chefs, with over 16,000 young people taking part this year alone, highlighting the passion and potential within the industry’s future. As proud members of the Country Range Group, it’s great to see the continued support for initiatives like FutureChef, helping to inspire young talent and create real opportunities within our industry. “This year’s competition has been our biggest yet, with over 16,000 young people taking part – a true testament to the growing passion and talent within the next generation of chefs. Programmes like FutureChef are vital in nurturing young culinary talent and inspiring future careers in hospitality. None of this would be possible without the invaluable support of partners like Country Range. Their commitment enables us to continue delivering meaningful opportunities, industry connections and hands-on experiences for students across the UK. With their support, we’re confident that FutureChef will remain a transformative platform for young people, opening doors to exciting careers and helping to address the industry’s skills gap. Together, we’re not just shaping future chefs; we’re cultivating the culinary stars of tomorrow.” - Amanda McDade, National Head of Careers and Education at Springboard The future of food is in very good hands 👩‍🍳👨‍🍳✨

👨‍🍳 Interested in a career in the kitchen? Join the first Springboard FutureChef Culinary Careers Session next week and hear directly from industry chefs about what it’s really like working in hospitality. Our first session on Wednesday 20th May, 10:00–10:45am will focus on Chef Roles, featuring: Deepak Mallya Eliott Dunk Nikki Low Stuart Bowman Discover career pathways, industry insights and where a career as a chef could take you 👉 Sign up now: https://loom.ly/-3K8yfw #SpringboardFutureChef #HospitalityCareers #ChefLife #Springboard #Hospitality

🚨 Springboard FutureChef Careers Sessions are back for 2026! Join us for our first session: Chef Roles 📅 Wednesday 20th May 2026 ⏰ 10:00 – 10:45am Discover what it’s really like to work as a chef and explore exciting career pathways in hospitality. 👉 Sign up now: https://loom.ly/-3K8yfw #SpringboardFutureChef #ChefCareers #HospitalityCareers #InspiringFutures

Throwback to the Springboard FutureChef National Final! 👨‍🍳✨ Congratulations to Jessica on receiving the Brian Turner Taste Award for her incredible dish - a fantastic achievement and a true showcase of her talent. 👏 #SpringboardFutureChef #YoungChefs #CulinaryTalent

Congratulations to our Springboard FutureChef Bake Off Winner 2026 - Leah Pike! Leah wowed the judges with her creativity, skill and passion for baking, earning her the top spot at this year’s competition. 👏 Pictured here receiving her award at the Springboard FutureChef National Finals, this is an incredible achievement - especially at just 13 years old! 🌟 A huge well done, Leah - we can’t wait to see what you do next! 💙 #SpringboardFutureChef #FutureChefBakeOff2026 #YoungChefs #BakingTalent #CulinaryTalent

✨ Throwback to last month’s Springboard FutureChef National Finals 2026! ✨ What an incredible event celebrating the very best young culinary talent from across the UK 👩‍🍳👨‍🍳 A huge well done to all our finalists - your creativity, skill, and passion truly impressed the judges and inspired us all. The future of hospitality is in very good hands! 🌟 #SpringboardFutureChef #HospitalityCareers #culinarytalents #foodie

HIT Training have been supporting Springboard over many years and we are delighted that they have renewed their sponsorship for the year ahead. They continue to keep closely involved with our Springboard FutureChef Programme (Platinum Tier), as well as our Awards for Excellence 2026. In addition, they are always happy to provide support to our employability Trainees, offering advice about apprenticeships in the Hospitality and Licensed Trade sectors. “We are proud to continue our partnership with Springboard and to renew our sponsorship for the year ahead. At HIT Training, we are passionate about developing the next generation of talent across hospitality and the licensed trade, and Springboard’s work aligns closely with our own commitment to creating accessible career pathways and raising professional standards across the sector. Programmes such as Springboard FutureChef and the Awards for Excellence play a vital role in inspiring ambition, recognising achievement and showcasing the breadth of opportunity our industry offers. Our partnership with Springboard reflects our shared belief that investing in people is the key to a stronger, more resilient hospitality industry.” - Mike Worley, Managing Director, HIT Training

A huge thank you to all our incredible judges at the Springboard FutureChef National Final 2026 👨‍🍳🏆 Your time, expertise and dedication play a vital role in supporting and inspiring the next generation of culinary talent. We’re so grateful for your continued support in helping young chefs grow, learn and shine. ✨ #SpringboardFutureChef #YoungChefs #CulinaryTalent #HospitalityIndustry

From the NI final to the London final, throwback to last Monday where we had a fantastic day at the @sbfuturechef_ competition! A huge well done to our NI finalist Hanna, who represented us brilliantly on such a big stage (and kitchen!), with over 16,000 young people entering, we couldn’t be prouder of the passion, skill and determination she showed throughout the competition to make it to the final 12👏🏼 The event was also a great opportunity to hear inspiring conversations about the future of hospitality with @geoffthechefbaird joining a panel discussion alongside industry peers. With the Springboard programme now in its 27th year, congratulations to all the finalists and organisers for continuing to champion young culinary talent!🧑🏻‍🍳

Hear what Kate had to say about winning and becoming the Springboard FutureChef Champion 2026! 👨‍🍳🏆 A huge congratulations once again on such an incredible achievement - we can’t wait to see what’s next. 🌟 #SpringboardFutureChef #FutureChef2026 #YoungChefs #HospitalityIndustry

A huge congratulations to all our Springboard FutureChef finalists! 👨‍🍳🏆 Making it to the National Final is an incredible achievement, and you should all be extremely proud of what you’ve accomplished. The talent, passion and creativity on display has been truly inspiring. ✨ The future of our industry is bright — and it’s in very good hands. 🌟 #SpringboardFutureChef #YoungChefs #FutureOfHospitality #CulinaryTalent