Craft Guild of Chefs Graduate Awards open for entries

The Craft Guild of Chefs' Graduate Awards, now in its 11th year, offers working chefs under 23 the chance to prove they are at the cutting edge and incorporates a host of new incentives for 2013.

Chef Paul Gayler, known for his Eurasian cuisine as executive chef at London's Lanesborough Hotel, is to be this year's chairman of examiners.

Entrants are asked to submit entries by e-mail, and a select few will then be asked to take a regional cooking test at University College Birmingham or the University of West London in Ealing on 27 June 2013. Chefs who make it through will then take a final cooking exam at the University of West London on 5 September 2013, judged by top chefs including Gayler.

This year's successful graduates will be announced in front of hundreds of influential guests at an awards presentation at London's Hyatt Carlton Towers Hotel on 9 September 2013.

Graduates also win a European study tour, while the Highest Graduate Achiever also receives a special prize. There is also an Employers' trophy for excellence in training.

The deadline for this year's entries is 17 May 2013 and full details can be viewed obtained by e-mailing craftguild@btconnect.com.