Roux Scholarship launches £6,000 mentorship prize to encourage winner to remain with employer

The organisers of the Roux Scholarship have added a £6,000 mentorship prize to encourage the winner to remain with their employer after winning the competition.

The money will be delivered after 15 months. However if the winner leaves his or her place of employment earlier, the sum will be forfeited and given to their employer to develop the remaining team’s skills.

Chairman Michel Roux Jr said: “The Roux Scholarship’s star prize – a stage in a three-star Michelin kitchen abroad - is a life-changing experience for our winners. It really opens doors for them. Should they wish to take up new opportunities soon after returning, then this cash award will help the development of the employer’s brigade regardless.”

Additionally, the winner is guaranteed to receive prize money of £6000, a trip to a Paris bakery workshop and a day long course with Meilleur Ouvrier de France the Best Craftsman of France.

Entrants have until the 31 January to submit their applications via the Roux Scholarship website, they must be in full time employment and aged between 22 and 30 on the 1 February.

Applicants are required to submit a recipe for one whole fresh hake, weighing between 1.6kg – 1.8kg (maximum 2kg) and 600g live whole grooved carpet shell or palourde clams; together plated with two ‘simple’ or ‘composed’ accompaniments. One of them must include leeks and the other to be a garnish of their choice. A sauce must accompany the dish.

Joining chairmen Alain Roux and Michel Roux Jr as judges for the regional and national finals are chefs Clare Smyth, Sat Bains, James Martin, Simon Hulstone, André Garrett, Rachel Humphrey, Brian Turner and Angela Hartnett. Three-star Michelin chef Björn Frantzén from Sweden will judge the final as the honorary president of judges.

Chefs will be invited to cook their recipe at the semi-finals alongside a dessert for four people made from a ‘mystery box’ of ingredients.

The national final will take place on 6 April at Westminster Kingsway College and the awards ceremony will follow the same evening at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London.