11/08/2026
TV Chef Rachel Khoo & KETTLE® Chips Announce Year Three of The KETTLE® Khoo Academy : Elevating UK Culinary Talent
Building on two successful and inspiring cohorts, The KETTLE® Khoo Academy, KETTLE® Chips and renowned best-selling author and TV chef, Rachel Khoo, are thrilled to announce that the programme will be returning for a third year to offer the next wave of culinary talent a transformative six-months of support in the gourmet food industry.
Discover how people seeking a career in gourmet food can apply for a chance to be part of a six month mentoring programme & receive up to £4,000 in monetary support. Designed to bridge industry gaps and empower aspiring chefs, the KETTLE® Khoo Academy delivers a blend of expert masterclasses, direct industry networking, and financial support to give rising culinary talent the opportunity to thrive in a competitive space.
KETTLE® Khoo Academy Year 3
Following on from last year, five pioneering people will be selected to participate in the six-month mentorship scheme which will run from November 2026 to March 2027.
While applications are open to all eligible food lovers and treated equally, we actively encourage women to consider applying. There are persistent gender gaps across the sector, where women make up only 18.5% of chefs in the UK*, and broader 2026 data shows that women hold just 29% of first-line management roles and occupy only 6% of CEO positions**.
Successful participants will receive up to £4,000 in financial funding to help overcome everyday career hurdles in the food industry, including acquiring specialist equipment, offsetting kitchen setup and childcare expenses, or pursuing further training in their chosen fields. Previous academy alumni put bursaries to practical use, including funding tuition at prestigious culinary summer schools and securing trade stand space at key industry events to boost brand exposure and strengthen their presence within the industry.
All flavour loving individuals can apply from 11 August 2026 at 00:01 hours until 22 September 2026 at 23:59 hours.
Speaking on the KETTLE® Khoo Academy, Rachel Khoo said, “Over the last two years, it’s been such a privilege to watch our mentees gain the practical skills, network, and confidence to pursue their passions in food. As we enter our third year, I can’t wait to meet our next five mentees – whether you’re a budding food entrepreneur or simply obsessed with flavour, we want to hear from you!”
Saliha Khan Sadozai, Founder of Third Culture Kat and Year Two graduate of the KETTLE® Khoo Academy, shared her experience:
“The Academy gave me something I didn’t realise I needed as a founder: the space to step out of the day-to-day and turn my passion for Pakistani food heritage and provenance into a strong, sustainable business.” Reflecting on her time in the programme, Saliha added, “Being surrounded by fellow founders on their own journeys and facing similar challenges was incredibly powerful. I came away with new perspectives, a strong network, and a renewed belief in what Third Culture Kat can become.”
The five winning ‘mentees’ for 2026 will begin their journeys on the programme, anchored by expert guidance by Rachel Khoo herself via six-month virtual workshops led by industry experts from Valeo Foods UK C-suite board across a range of sectors including brand building and sustainable practice, and a brand-new session on commercial sales skills. Mex Ibrahim, Co-Founder of Women in the Food Industry, will also return to the initiative to assist with candidate selection and run a dedicated workshop on leveraging the power of LinkedIn to grow a business. These sessions are crafted to drive both personal and business development, alongside sparking creativity and community building within the food sector.
How can you apply for this opportunity?
The aim of The KETTLE® Khoo Academy is to create more opportunities in the food industry from professional kitchens and restaurants to small businesses.
Entrants must share a post and tag @kettlechipsuk on Instagram, @KETTLEChipsUK on Facebook (tagging @KETTLEChipsUK and #KettleKhooAcademy). The post must explain who they are and their location (name and county) why they would like to be considered for the KETTLE® Khoo Academy, and what their dream gourmet KETTLE® chip flavour would be, and why. Once the social media post is live, applicants must also submit a short written bio to the KETTLE® Khoo Academy email address at apply@kettlekhooacademy.com explaining their culinary journey so far, future career ambitions, availability for the 6-month programme, and a link to their social post.
Please see significant conditions here and full T&C’s apply, see kettlechips.co.uk.
The 5 main prize winners selected by a judging panel (see below) as having submitted the most interesting, creative & compelling entries will each win: access to a mentoring programme and a bursary fund up to a maximum of £4,000 to be spent between 17/11/26 and 13/05/27 to assist them to further their career in the food industry.
There are 20 runner up prizes of Rachel Khoo’s memoir – The Smallest Restaurant in Paris and a selection of KETTLE® Chips.
Judging panel
The entries will be judged by Rachel Khoo, Kettle Foods Marketing team, Mex Ibrahim co-founder of Women in The Food Industry and supported by KETTLE®’s PR agency, Rachel Nevin Communications.
At Women in the Food Industry we are delighted to be assisting with this initiative and co-founder Mex Ibrahim said, “One of the reasons we set up Women In The Food Industry was to try to address the balance of power in the food industry. It was to shine a spotlight on the amazing things that women are doing to help the economy, the reputation and quality of UK food and most importantly, what women are doing to nurture and grow other people and therefore business. It was to get women seen as an inspiration to others.”
22nd September 2026 – Applications Close
6th October 2026 – Winners informed
Following the selection of the 5 people, the mentoring programme will launch from November 2026 and run until March 2027 with each person receiving support with brand building, social media and PR skills, accounting and creativity sessions through a comprehensive virtual workshop process for mentees, each month delving into a different theme.
Don’t forget the application deadline is 22 September at 23:59.
Have a question about KETTLE Khoo Academy? Email the team at apply@kettlekhooacademy.com
*Data taken from Sally Abé’s, A Woman’s Place Is In The Kitchen, published June 2024.
**Data taken from Gender Representation in the Food Manufacturing Industry 2026, p8, published May 2026.
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