Craft Guild of Chefs Graduate Awards 2024 – Meet the Women Achievers

The Craft Guild of Chefs Graduate Awards 2024 concluded on 9th September with a glittering ceremony at Fortnum & Mason.  Nine talented young chefs were celebrated for reaching an important milestone in their careers. Following a challenging five-hour Graduate Awards final exam at the University of West London, those chefs who achieved the all-important pass mark were announced. Our co-founder Mex Ibrahim celebrated with the women who reached the finals and the examiners involved.

In the Pastry exam, four chefs passed the award including Irene Magro from Rosewood London, Catherine Ens who is a chef at Launceston Place, Jessica McKechnie from Mar Hall, and Ridhima Mhaiskar who works at The Dorchester Hotel. Irene achieved the highest mark in the pastry exam whilst the mentor award was presented to Mark Perkins from Rosewood London.

In her first year as Chair of examiners, Sarah Frankland commented: “All the finalists did really well in the final exam, and you could see they had learnt so much from this experience. It was really interesting to see the wide variety of dishes presented to us from the finalists.

There was a really calm atmosphere in the kitchen, and it was great to see the chefs working so well together and supporting each other right to the final minute. For those chefs who didn’t achieve the award this year, I would love to see them back next year as it’s all about improving skills and developing personally and professionally.”

Examiners for this year included Sally Abé, Gary Jones, Andrew Ditchfield, Mark Reynolds, Roger Pizey, Leyre Pedrazuela Otero plus many more inspirational and successful chefs who were keen to support this important event for up-and-coming chefs.

Sarah Frankland, added: “One of the first things I wanted to do as chair was bring the pastry tasks in-line with the kitchen exam by including a theory element. Whilst it is only a small percentage of the marks, I feel it’s important that chefs don’t stop working on the theory side just because they have left college.”

The Graduate Award is a practical and theory exam which is aimed at chefs aged under 25 who are looking to test their skills, put themselves in the spotlight and connect with like-minded peers.

It provides opportunities for chefs to develop culinary expertise and opens doors into experiences such as Young National Chef of the Year.

The Achievers of the Graduate Award will receive a personalised tour of the iconic Fortnum & Mason London store with tea tasting and opportunities for stages in one of the many restaurants​.  Those chefs who achieved the Pastry award will be taken on an international trip by NOWAH.

The Craft Guild of Chefs is the largest UK chefs’ association with members worldwide in foodservice and hospitality, from students and trainees to top management working everywhere from Michelin starred restaurants to school catering divisions.

You can see the full list of Graduate Award Winners for 2024 on The Craft Guild of Chefs website.

You may also be interested in the following: 

Meet the Women Young National Chef of the Year Finalists for 2024, Sally Abé’s ‘A Woman’s Place is in the Kitchen’ – Reviewed by Antonia Lloyd, Meet Clare Smyth MBE – new President of Bocuse D’Or UK, Ruth Hansom on making the Roux Scholarship finals in 2022 and Olivia Burt on making the Roux Scholarship finals in 2019. Plus read our ambassador Antonia Lloyd’s interview with April Lily Partridge on winning the Roux Scholarship in 2023.

Discover how qualifying Women In The Food Industry supporters can get a year’s free membership of The Craft Guild of Chefs.