April 2025
Maisy’s Story
By Maisy Wilby
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Maisy Wilby
Royal Academy of Culinary Arts (RACA) Level 3 apprenticeship
Private chef working with the stars
Maisy has launched an incredible career since completing her RACA apprenticeship – including working with a MasterChef champion.
As a private chef, Maisy has worked all over the world, including being brought together with Dan Lee, MasterChef: The Professionals 2021 winner, to create an Asian-inspired, gourmet dining experience for chalet guests at the luxury Verbier Exclusive resort in Switzerland.
It was actually a reunion for the pair, who first worked together at Eat Vietnam in Stirchley, Maisy's employer during her apprenticeship. Dan then mentored Maisy at 1000 Trades restaurant at Lightwoods Park in Birmingham when she graduated in 2023.
On the back of the experience, Maisy was asked to cook at the chalet guests’ private villa in Spain.
Maisy not only passed the RACA final exam with flying colours, she won RACA’s Egon Ronay Scholar of the Year, the first of University College Birmingham’s female apprentices to win this accolade.
It’s been an incredible ride so far for Maisy, who started out on a Level 1 course in food and beverage skills, followed by a Level 2 in Professional Cookery at University College Birmingham.
Maisy said: "Joining the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts was the best decision I’ve made for my career so far!
"It’s opened so many doors for me and has allowed me to network with so many talented and inspiring chefs.
"Overall, the college contributed to my personal and professional growth and I couldn’t recommend it more to any young aspiring young chef."