David Mulcahy steps up to chairman of Springboard’s FutureChef competition

Springboard’s FutureChef competition, which celebrates 25 years this week, has announced Sodexo’s David Mulcahy as its new chairman.

The chef competition has also welcomed Brian Turner as its FutureChef life ambassador. As a thanks for his 25 years of support, Springboard FutureChef has created a new annual award, the Brian Turner Best Taste Prize, sponsored by Wellocks.

Mulcahy, who is the food innovation and sustainability lead at Sodexo UK & Ireland, said: “It is truly an honour to become chairman of Springboard FutureChef, as we celebrate its 25th anniversary. Throughout the years, this competition has played a vital role in shaping the careers of countless budding chefs, and I am looking forward to contributing to its legacy of culinary excellence.

“Together, with the support of Brian Turner and our other renowned chefs and partners, we aim to inspire and empower even more young people to pursue their culinary aspirations.”

The school-based competition, which is supported by the Savoy Educational Trust, Hilton, Sodexo, Worshipful Company of Cooks, CH&Co, BaxterStorey, Compass and Nestlé, has seen 214,000 children aged 12-16 take part over the last 25 years, with the likes of Clare Smyth, Michel Roux Jr, Monica Galetti and Tom Kerridge nurturing their talent.

A number of these participants have gone on to foster careers in the industry, including April Partridge, chef de partie at the Ivy London, who won in 2009. She went on to become the highest-ever ranking female chef in the Craft Guild of Chefs National Chef of the Year in 2020, while also winning the Roux Scholarship earlier this year.

Other former competitors also include restaurateur Graeme Cheevers, social media influencer Poppy O'Toole and Acorn award winner and Roux Scholarship finalist Ruth Hansom.