Still time to enter Craft Guild of Chefs Graduate Awards 2015

There is still time for young chefs to enter the Craft Guild of Chefs' Graduate Awards 2015.

Chefs aged 23 and under are invited to enter, to show off the skills they learned in college and have since honed in the workplace. Previous participants include Richard Edwards, executive chef at Lords of the Manor in Gloucestershire, who recently won his first Michelin star.

The awards ask chefs to take part in tasks in a high-pressure environment, including butchery and fishmongery, a mystery basket challenge, and the creation of a classic main and dessert. Candidates must achieve a score of 85% to pass.

Paper entries close on 3 May, with regional cooking tests set to take place on 5 June at Sheffield College and the University of West London. The final exam is scheduled for 27 August at Birmingham University College.

Entry forms are available from the Craft Guild of Chefs website.

Competitors who pass the paper entry stage and the regional cooking test will have the chance to take part in a masterclass day led by a host of industry professionals. Last year's day included a Q&A with Graham Hornigold, executive pastry chef at the Michelin-starred Hakkasan Mayfair; a dinner focusing on Indian flavours with Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala; a trip to Smithfield market and a butchery class with the London Meat Co; and a filleting session at Billingsgate Fish School.

Awards co-ordinator and chef Steve Munkley said: "Chefs need to get their paper entry for the awards in and start the ball rolling in what could be a real boost for the CV and a turning point in their career. We are still in the process of putting the finishing touches to this year's itinerary, but what I can say is that it is already looking positively mouth-watering."

Launched in 2003 by Munkley, the awards are designed to recognise and celebrate young working chefs' culinary ability and excellence.

The five 2014 winners were James Newton from the Royal Garden Hotel, who took the highest achiever title with a score of 87.5% (and won a four-day break with Warner Hotels); Connor Godfrey from Wilton's Restaurant; Ruth Hansom from the Ritz London; Wayne Herrington of the Landmark London and Victoria Scupham from The Royal Household.

Sponsors of this year's awards include AAK, CCS, City and Guilds, Essential Cuisine, GRAM, James Knight of Mayfair, Mars Foodservice, Meiko, MKN, Reynolds, Savoy Education Trust, Schwartz, rhe London Meat Co, Villeroy and Boch, and Warner Leisure Hotels.

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