Top chefs team up to get young people cooking this summer & inspire future talent

@Springboard_UK is inspiring young people with #fcsummerkitchen. Celebrity chefs include @BBC’s @MillionPoundMnu star @ruth0310, MasterChef champion, @Gmacchef and @CorrigansFood

A line-up of top chefs are creating special video cookery demos, to show young people how to prepare one of their favourite recipes, including expert hints and tips.

A new video will be released every Friday, giving newbies the chance to ‘glow up’ in the kitchen, with celebrity chefs Richard Corrigan, Ruth Hansom and Gary Maclean providing the first three videos. They’re also calling on chefs across the UK to support the campaign by posting their own short cooking demos to their social channels, with the #fcsummerkitchen hashtag. The idea is to get as many young people as possible cooking over the summer in a fun and easy access way.

Corrigan, who runs Corrigan’s Mayfair, Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill and Daffodil Mulligan in London, said he’s backing the campaign because it’s never been more important to showcase the chef craft to young people.

Hansom, meanwhile was a former FutureChef participant and featured on BBC Two’s Million Pound Menu, before recently joining the Princess in Shoreditch, London.

MasterChef: The Professionals 2016 champion Gary Maclean said: “I have been involved with Future chef for over 15 years as a mentor and a judge. I have seen first-hand how this competition not only builds confidence in young people, but also teaches essential life skills and opens up the amazing world of the hospitality industry.”  

The campaign is backed by the hospitality industry job board Caterer.com, and Head of Marketing Kathy Dyball said: “We want as many young people and parents to have access to free, useful and fun online resources throughout the summer holidays – to enjoy and get comfortable with cooking, inspiring the next wave of FutureChef students.”

FutureChef’s Summer Kitchen is designed to ignite a passion for food and present younger generations with further career opportunities. Those who enjoy picking up new skills and knowledge will be inspired to take the next step and participate in Springboard’s FutureChef Programme for 2020.

Springboard’s FutureChef is a leading industry-backed resource matched to the food curriculum. Aimed at young people aged 11-16, Springboard’s FutureChef engages and inspires thousands of UK students each year to learn valuable skills, advance their knowledge and experience with food, from nutrition and safety, through to knife skills and cooking techniques. Older students are introduced to chefs and offered experience in a kitchen, revealing exciting career options and unleashing potential. FutureChef also wants more chefs to get involved, sharing the wealth of their knowledge and experience, nurturing the talent pipeline of chefs.

The first demo video will be released this Friday 31st July at 12pm. 

Springboard are encouraging young people to proudly share their Summer Kitchen creations on social media using #FCSummerKitchen. The best photos will feature on the FutureChef website.