Junior Chef Competition

11 Nov 2025

Calling all budding young chefs aged between 10 to 13 years! Enter a competition to win one of just 12 funded places on a six week Future Chefs Cookery Course at West Suffolk College.

To enter, the young chefs will need to show off their culinary passion by describing why they want to be part of the programme, whether they aspire to have a career in catering, or to learn new skills in the kitchen.

The lucky winners will have the chance to cook up a storm each week, learning new skills, techniques and recipes. The Future Chefs Cookery Course is an introductory stage programme specifically designed to give young people a chance to experience working in a professional kitchen. This is a brilliant opportunity to ignite children’s culinary passion and curiosity. 

West Suffolk Council has allocated £3,000 from the money it was granted from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to finance this course and additional events that will be announced soon. UKSPF aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK by investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. 

Cllr Indy Wijenayaka, Cabinet Member for Growth, West Suffolk Council, said: “This competition offers a fantastic chance to inspire young people to develop their passion for cooking while exploring exciting career pathways in the hospitality sector. 

“It is wonderful that we have been able to work in partnership with West Suffolk College to support the Future Chef competition once again to encourage skills development and confidence in our young residents. 

“Good luck to all applicants and we cannot wait to see the delicious dishes they produce!”

Stuart Ascott, lecturer at West Suffolk College's Culinary Arts Academy, said: "We are delighted to be involved in this young chef competition and thankful to West Suffolk Council for supporting this project. It aims to inspire a new generation of young talent to be enthused by a career in hospitality.

"Bury is often labelled as the foodie capital of East Anglia and we are blessed by having some amazing chefs and superb restaurants in our fabulous town.

“I am sure that some of the young people who get the chance to train in our award winning restaurant called Edmunds, will go on and become the next cooking superstars who end up having sensational and rewarding careers in this magnificent industry.”

The competition opens on Wednesday 12 November 2025 and closes on Monday 5 January 2026. 

Winners will be announced by Monday 26 January 2026. The cookery course starts on Saturday 28 February 2026.

More information and how to apply can be found at West Suffolk College - Junior Chef Competition.
 

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