First teams through to Nestlé Professional Toque d'Or 2015

A record-breaking 36 college teams are now through to the Nestlé Professional Toque d'Or 2015 regional heats, which take place in February.

Teams including Belfast Metropolitan College, Blackpool and The Fylde College, Coleg Llandrillo, Croydon College, Kirklees College, New College Nottingham, South Thames College, University College Birmingham and Westminster Kingsway College will compete for a place in the grand finals.

Neil Stephens, managing director of Nestlé Professional UK & Eire, said: "We're seeing a growing movement by employers in their awareness of the advantages of recruiting a Toque candidate and many of our past students have gone on to work with the finest establishments in the UK, whether as a chef, or in a front of house role. Teamwork is key - hence we place so much emphasis on combining front and back of house skill sets.

The student teams will now move onto the first practical round of the competition, where they'll be supported by the Craft Guild of Chefs, Loch Fyne and Ch&Co, all sharing their industry knowledge and testing the students on what they have learned. Each team will be competing for one of the six places at the grand finals in March.

For further information go to www.nestle-toquedor.co.uk