Megan and Katie up for Rising Star at baking industry Oscars

Two top students at UCB hope to rise to the occasion after being named finalists in the British baking world’s search for the next one-to-watch in the industry.

Bakery and Patisserie Technology* degree students Megan Roberts and Katie Garrett are two of three finalists up for the Rising Star of the Year Award at this year’s glittering Baking Industry Awards (BIA) in September.

The other is student Grace Booth from the National Bakery School.

Winning would be particularly sweet for 22-year-old Megan as she not only graduates from UCB this year and has a job lined up with global bakery ingredients specialist AB Mauri, where two UCB alumni also have careers, but it is the third time she has been selected as a finalist for the award, won by UCB graduate Jessica Dalton in 2017.

Megan has also been a finalist in Le Cordon Bleu’s UK Scholarship Award.

Former UCB apprentice Katie is about to enter her third year of her degree and winning would be the icing on the cake in a year that has brought plenty of competitive success for the 21-year-old.

This includes winning gold for her scrumptious shortbread, silver for her vegan healthy eating bar innovation in the Bakel’s competition and Best in Show for her confectionery fondant fancies at the Alliance for Bakery Students and Trainees’ (ABST) annual competition. It was the second year in a row she won the shortbread category.

Katie also featured on hit Channel 4 show Extreme Cake Makers in 2017 after assisting and making an impression at Cake International at the NEC.

Samantha Dowle, an Assistant Dean of UCB’s College of Food (Bakery), said: "I am very proud of all the students who have entered and admire Megan’s determination to keep persevering. Obviously, I would be very proud if a UCB student won this prestigious title again and wish all three finalists good luck. UCB's Bakery and Patisserie Technology degree is a well respected course within the bakery industry, with many successful alumni now in the industry."

The Rising Star award is open to all ages, but is aimed at those in work, training or bakery college who are able to demonstrate their achievements in the past three years.

The honour is given to the person judges believe will contribute to shaping the future of the baking industry. Megan and Katie will find out whether they are successful at the awards ceremony, compéred by Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts, in the glamorous surroundings of the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London, on Wednesday 4 September.

Find out more about the bakery courses offered by UCB.

*Our Bakery and Patisserie Technology BSc (Hons) degree received an overall satisfaction score of over 90% in the 2019 National Student Survey.