Sponsors of 2011 National Chef of the Year Award named

Catering equipment supplier Lockhart, **Unilever **brand Knorr and appliance manufacturer **Electrolux **are the headline sponsors for this year's National Chef of the Year award

The awards, now in their 39th year, are organised by the Craft Guild of Chefs, and are also supported by Continental Chef Supplies, Churchill China, Blue Arrow Catering and Blend, London butcher Rare, Gourmet Classic Cooking Wines, and the Restaurant Show.

The competition is open to all chefs (from hotels, restaurants, pubs, universities and contract caterers) who are 23 or older on 1 April. They will be asked to devise a three-course lunch menu for four and 40 semi-finalists will be chosen to battle for a place at the grand finale in London in October.

To enter, call Clair Bowman on 01293 610 329 or download the entry form from the Craft Guild of Chefs website.

Competition time line
12 May Deadline for entries
1 June Paper judging to choose 40 semi-finalists
5 September Semi-final at Sheffield College
8 September Semi-final and Portsmouth College
15 September Semi-final at Westminster Kingsway College
11 October Live final at Restaurant Show, Earls Court 2, London