Royal Academy of Culinary Arts launches alumni network

The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts (RACA) has launched an alumni network to inspire young professionals to become the next generation of chefs, pastry chefs and restaurant managers.

Over 120 people attended the launch event, which was held at the Berkeley in London on 17 October.

Guests had the chance to spend the evening with the likes of John Williams MBE, chairman of RACA and executive chef at The Ritz; Adam Byatt, chef and proprietor at the Michelin-starred Trinity restaurant in Clapham; Alistair Birt, senior head pastry chef at Harrods; and James Golding, group chef director of the Pig group.

RACA already runs numerous initiatives to support the industry, including the Master of Culinary Arts (MCA) competition, aimed at skilled industry professionals, and the Annual Awards of Excellence (AAE), for young professionals.

Members of the alumni network will have access to mentoring, networking and career development opportunities from existing RACA members, including Williams, Heston Blumenthal, Raymond Blanc OBE, Jason Atherton, William Curley MCA and Benoit Blin MCA.

Next year, alumni network members will be able to attend events such as a Champagne masterclass at the Connaught Hotel in London’s Mayfair in January, the Moët & Chandon Champagne tasting masterclass in March, and the Academy of Cheese masterclass in June.

Richard Larkin, managing director of RACA, said: “Present times have encouraged us to adapt and challenge the problem of our hospitality workers becoming disenfranchised within the industry.

“Our alumni network has been launched to improve the talent pipeline, by giving young workers the opportunity to collaborate, whilst also being able to interact with our inspirational academy members, who provide a first-class hospitality experience to customers.”

RACA was established in 1980 as a professional membership association of head chefs, head pastry chefs, restaurant managers and suppliers with the aim of providing education for future hospitality professionals.