Springboard FutureChef 2024 reveals 12 regional winners

Twelve regional winners of the Springboard FutureChef competition have been revealed.

Now in its 25th year, the school-based competition aims to find the next generation of industry talent from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Previous winners include Tom Hamblet, 2023 MasterChef: The Professionals champion, April Lily Partridge, 2023 Roux Scholar, and Graeme Cheevers, owner of the Michelin-starred Unalome in Glasgow.

More than 13,000 young teenagers from 12 regions went head-to-head over the past 12 months as part of the competition, which resulted in 81 regional finalists who were tasked with preparing a main course and dessert for two people in 90 minutes.

Dishes were judged by a panel of industry professionals, including chefs Adam Handling of Frog by Adam Handling, James Sommerin of Home by James Sommerin, and Nieves Barragán Mohacho of Sabor.

The 12 regional winners have been invited to take part in the prestigious national final at Westminster Kingsway College in London on 18 March.

Chris Gamm, chief executive of Springboard, said: “By introducing young talent to the world of hospitality and allowing them to experience the level of creativity that comes with it, the competition has enabled many talented young individuals to enter the industry and discover their passions for what the sector offers. Competitions like these are critical because they bring in talented and motivated workers while promoting the industry. It is also great to see competitors having fun and doing what they love.”

This year’s winners

• North Scotland region: Domhnall Bruce, 14 years old, from Portree High School, Isle of Skye
• Central and South Scotland region: Eva Brodie, 15 years old, from Portobello High School, Edinburgh
• North East region: Iris Bedford, 13 years old, from Rodillian Academy, Leeds
• North West region: Millie Jo Lomax, 15 years old, from Poynton High School, Manchester
• East Midlands region: Ella Lovejoy, 16 years old, from Toot Hill School, Nottingham
• West Midlands region: Josh Hurd, 15 years old, from Newcastle Academy, Newcastle Under Lyme
• East of England region: Lola Sycamore, 16 years old, from Comberton Village College, Cambridge
• Wales region: Carys Williams, 15 years old, from Pontarddulais School, Swansea
• South West region: Freya Barrett, 16 years old, from Penrice Academy, Cornwall
• South East region: Pippa Cooper, 16 years old, from Priory School
• London region: Reese Ventura, 15 years old, from St Philomena Catholic School for Girls
• Northern Ireland region: Alex Scates, 13 years old, from St Columbanus School, Bangor

The Springboard FutureChef competition began in 1999 with just nine schools and 127 young chefs. Since then, 225,000 people aged between 12 and 16 have taken part in the contest.