Twelve exceptional young chefs from across the UK are heading to London next month to battle it out in the Springboard FutureChef National Final 2026, the UK’s leading school-based cooking competition.
Taking place on Monday the 23rd March 2026 at Capital City College, Westminster Centre, the all day event will see the twelve finalists compete head-to-head for the title of Springboard FutureChef Champion 2026. Across the day, competitors will complete a high-pressure skills test and then produce a full two-course menu, showcasing their creativity and technical ability.
Now in its 27th year, Springboard FutureChef is the UK’s largest and most influential culinary competition for school-aged students, designed to uncover and nurture the hospitality stars of tomorrow. The programme equips young people aged 12–16 with essential cookery and life skills, delivered through school heats, local and regional finals, workshops and mentorship from professional chefs.
Chris Gamm, CEO of Springboard, said: “Springboard FutureChef isn’t just about teaching young people to cook- it’s about helping them build lifelong skills that set them up for future success. Through the competition, participants develop creativity, confidence, and resilience, helping them to discover what they’re truly capable of achieving. Watching these talented finalists grow throughout the programme is a real reminder of the power of opportunity in shaping the next generation of hospitality professionals.”
In a Springboard FutureChef first, this year’s National Final will be entirely vegetarian. Finalists will work from the same basket of core ingredients and will be challenged to put vegetables centre stage, proving just how exciting plant-based cooking can be.
Each competitor will begin with a 45-minute skills test, preparing mini Paris-Brest choux pastries. They will then have two hours to produce and serve a two-course menu for four people: A hot main course that showcases one hero vegetable and an inventive Paris-Brest-based dessert, using their own baked choux as the foundation, The finalists will be judged by a powerhouse panel of respected and award-winning chefs, including Brian Turner CBE, James Sommerin, Kirk Haworth, Sabrina Gidda, Steve Munkley, Mark Reynolds and David Mulcahy. The judging and winner announcement will all take place on the same day, with one young chef crowned Springboard FutureChef 2026.
Chantelle Nicholson, multi-award-winning chef and 2026 Lead Judge for Springboard FutureChef, added: “For our industry to grow in a way that is innovative, resilient, and truly sustainable, we must open doors for everyone. Programmes like Springboard FutureChef play an essential role in encouraging young people from all backgrounds, helping them overcome obstacles and find their place in the kitchen. It’s a privilege to be part of an initiative that supports such a vibrant and representative new generation of chefs.”
Springboard FutureChef is sponsored by a wide range of industry organisations and employers who recognise that fostering a passion for food and cooking among young people is vital to the long-term strength of the UK’s hospitality sector. The competition would not be possible without the generous support of schools, colleges and professional chefs nationwide, who donate their time and expertise to mentor and judge the next generation.
Springboard FutureChef’s headline sponsors include the Savoy Educational Trust, the Worshipful Company of Cooks and the Country Range Group, alongside many other valued partners. Special thanks go to The Craft Guild of Chefs and Wellocks for compiling the National Final basket of ingredients.
For more information on Springboard FutureChef and its supporters, visit https://futurechef.uk.net/.
The 2026 regional finalists who will compete in London are:
• North Scotland: Kate Skinner, 15, Kemnay Academy
• Central & South Scotland: Amelia Lockhart, 15, St Joseph’s College
• North East England: Maisie Crank, 13, Sedgefield Community College
• North West England: Ava Nicholls, 13, Hilbre High School
• East Midlands: Ren Hopkin, 16, Joseph Whittaker School
• West Midlands: Maisie Hemmings, 14, Brownhills Ormiston Academy
• East of England: Dylan Slater, 15, Cambourne Village College
• London: Alberto Walker, 15, Kew House School
• South East England: Juliet Bunce, 15, Brighton Hill School
• South West England: Jessica Klapsia, 16, Torquay Girls’ Grammar School
• Wales: Rya Smith, 16, Coleg Cambria
• Northern Ireland: Hanna Asish, 15, Our Lady and St Patrick’s College
About Springboard
Springboard changes lives by unlocking potential and opening doors to brighter futures, empowering people from all backgrounds to find rewarding careers in the hospitality industry. For 35 years, the charity has supported young and unemployed individuals to build their skills and confidence and become ready for work. By nurturing new talent, we’re shaping a stronger, more resilient industry and future-proofing the talent pipeline for hospitality.
Each year, Springboard engages 148,000 people and supports 5,000 people into work in hospitality through the three main areas of their work – employability training, careers & education, and the CareerScope hospitality careers hub.
For more information, visit www.springboard.uk.net