Katie prepares to cook up a storm at FutureChef competition

All eyes will be on UCB apprentice Katie Cooper tomorrow (February 4) when she competes at the regional final of the Springboard FutureChef competition.

More than 8,000 students entered the competition and Katie has already demonstrated considerable skill at previous heats to win her place at the regional final, which will be held at UCB. If she is successful tomorrow, she will compete against 11 other candidates from around the country at the grand final in London.

Students have a budget of £10 and just 90 minutes to produce two portions of a main course and dessert.

Katie is a student on UCB’s prestigious Royal Academy of Culinary Arts Apprenticeship (RACA) course, which gives young chefs an opportunity to work and learn in some of the UK’s best restaurants, including those with coveted Michelin stars.

She has been mentored by UCB’s senior chef lecturer Tony Wright, who represented the UK at the European qualifier of the Bocuse d’Or competition in May. He said: “Katie is a talented and skilful young chef with a maturity beyond her years. It has been a pleasure to mentor her in this process. She is keen, enthusiastic and passionate about her craft.”