Semi-Finalists Announced for Student Pastry Chef of the Year 2025

In an inspiring showcase of emerging talent, The Chefs’ Forum has announced the semi-finalists for the prestigious Student Pastry Chef of the Year 2025 competition. Now in its fifth year, this national event aims to address the ongoing shortage of skilled pastry chefs in the UK while celebrating the creativity and expertise of young pastry professionals from colleges nationwide.

A Critical Industry Challenge

The hospitality industry has long struggled with a shortage of skilled chefs, particularly in the field of pastry. The impact of Brexit and the post-pandemic shift in the workforce has only exacerbated the issue. Pastry chefs play a crucial role in the kitchen, bringing a unique blend of science, precision, and artistry to their craft. Yet, the pipeline of new talent remains worryingly thin.

To combat this challenge and highlight the incredible training opportunities available in UK colleges, The Chefs’ Forum launched this national competition in 2020. The event not only identifies top talent but also provides young pastry chefs with the opportunity to showcase their skills in a high-profile setting.

Meet the Semi-Finalists

After an intense first-round judging process, 22 talented students from colleges across the UK have been selected to compete in the semi-finals:

1. Abbie Williams – Coleg y Cymoedd
2. Alexa Seymour – Cornwall College
3. Bella McCue – Northampton College
4. Chloe Kirby – Leicester College
5. Daria Naumenko – North Herts College
6. Donna Chan – South and City College Birmingham
7. Elena Cutiac -Halesowen College
8. Eleri Davies – Coleg Y Drenewydd/Newtown College
9. Emily Carter -Leicester College
10. Tay Simpson-Rogers – Coleg y Cymoedd
11. George Walker – Bridgwater & Taunton College
12. Hanna Kravchuk – West London College
13. Jessica Sale – Loughborough College
14. Kiera Rakhrao – Loughborough College
15. Lucy Hammett – St Austell College (Cornwall College)
16. Millie Owen – Halesowen College
17. Paulina Litwin – West Suffolk College
18. Phoebe Mortimer – Cornwall College
19. Rukeeyah Ebanks – West London College
20. Sofia Bond – Westminster Kingsway
21. Toto Chin Wai To – Westminster Kingsway
22. Toucarra Blake – Northampton College

For the semi-finals, these students will take on the challenge of designing 7 x identical plated restaurant desserts and 2 x different petit fours.

Martin Chiffers, Joint Head Judge and International Pastry Consultant, expressed his excitement about the competition:

“After reviewing all the entries with my esteemed colleague Franciane Tartari, it was great to see that the level of each student’s work was so high. This is going to make for a very exciting semi-final. I’m really looking forward to seeing what the students come up with during this stage and selecting those who will go through to the final in May.”

Franciane Tartari, Joint Head Judge, echoed these sentiments:

“It was fantastic to see a record number of entries and colleges enter the competition. We want the event to be accessible and fair to all students, so we designed the semi-final task with tight boundaries and a great scope for creativity. The standard is already very high, and I can’t wait to see who makes it to the final.”

What’s Next?
The semi-finalists must submit their designs by Friday 14th March at 17:00. Following this, the top eight finalists will be selected to compete in the grand final, which takes place live at West London College on Tuesday 13th May.

The finalists will face an esteemed panel of judges, including some of the UK’s most accomplished pastry professionals:

• Michael Kwan – Executive Pastry Chef at The Dorchester and UK Pastry Team
• Bobby Singer – Executive Pastry Chef at The Savoy Grill by Gordon Ramsay
• Michael D’Angelo – Executive Pastry Chef at Kensington Roof Garden
• Franciane Tartari – Pastry Chef Consultant
• Biju Joshwa – Executive Pastry Chef at Sheraton Grand Park Lane
• Rebecca Marshman – Group Head Pastry Chef at BaxterStorey
• Mohan Boddula – Group Executive Pastry Chef at Sexy Fish
• Nelson Sa – Freelance Executive Pastry Chef
• Miranda Reci – Freelance Pastry Chef
• Thibault Hauchard – Executive Pastry Chef at Claridge’s
• Benoit Blin – Executive Pastry Chef at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons/Bake Off: The Professionals Judge
• Mauro Di Lieto – Executive Pastry Chef & Bake Off: The Professionals Winner 2023
• Martin Chiffers – International Pastry Consultant

Sponsors confirmed so far:

• Matfer Bourgeat
• First Choice
• Andros Chef
• Bragard
• MCS Technical Products
• Wedgwood
• Xoco
• Terra Firma
• Pastry Gelato Equipment

With such a high level of talent on display, the competition promises to be an exciting celebration of the next generation of pastry chefs. Stay tuned for the announcement of the final eight and, ultimately, the winner of the Student Pastry Chef of the Year 2025!

Let’s have a replay of last year’s final, won by Cecille Youngs of West Suffolk College: