Ten young chefs receive Craft Guild’s 2025 Graduate Awards

The Craft Guild of Chefs has revealed the names of 10 young chefs who have won the Graduate Awards.

After an intense final exam held at the University of West London, successful entrants celebrated their awards at Fortnum & Mason in London’s Mayfair.

Kitchen applicants completed a written test and a series of culinary challenges, including butchery of a whole chicken, filleting a sea bass and creating a dish from a mystery basket.

Meanwhile, the pastry chefs were tasked with making a hand-dipped gianduja chocolate, a savoury focaccia and creating a showcase croquembouche, celebrating 10 years of the Pastry Graduate Award.

Inez Roggema of the two-Michelin-starred Trivet in London’s Bermondsey, was the highest achiever in the kitchen category, while Christi Myburgh of Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London’s Knightsbridge was named highest achiever in pastry.

Mentor awards went to Elliot Plimmer from the Royal Air Force Club and Emmanuel Bonneau from the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, both of which are based in London.

The Kitchen Graduates have secured spots to compete in the semi-finals of the Young National Chef of the Year in 2026.

Ben Murphy, head chef at the soon-to-open 74 Charlotte Street in London’s Fitzrovia, chaired the kitchen examiners, while Sarah Frankland, executive pastry chef at Pennyhill Park in Surrey, chaired the pastry examiners.

Steve Munkley, vice-president of the Craft Guild of Chefs and founder and organiser of the awards, said: “The Graduate Awards continue to be a benchmark for excellence among young chefs. What stood out this year was the sheer determination and professionalism shown by every finalist. Most of our kitchen achievers this year have entered previously and just missed out, so they’ve come back having learned from the experience and on a mission to achieve it. These ambitious chefs are the future of our industry, and it’s a privilege to support their journey.”

The Kitchen Graduate Award winners

• Dylan Evans, Henrock by Simon Rogan
• Inez Roggema, Trivet             
• Kai-le Tran, Royal Air Force Club       
• Oliver Porter, House of Commons
• Matthew Crane, Royal Air Force Club
• Ross Boyd, Amuse

The Pastry Graduate Award winners

• Alina Szymanska, Harrods                                         
• Andy Reid, the Glasshouse by Seasons
• Cameron McCrossan, Mar Hall
• Christi Myburgh, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park

The Craft Guild of Chefs was established in 1885 and has since become the UK’s largest chef’s association, with membership spanning the globe across foodservice and hospitality.