Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 16 July 2023

CATERING and hospitality students from NWSLC’s Hinckley College campus on Bond Street were part of a team which picked up two awards in the national finals of the UK Young Restaurant Team of the Year in Sheffield.

Harry Forbes, Sam Hurst, and fellow student Abbie Clarke, were recognised for the best use of seafood for their starter – and won the ‘highly commended service’ award.

They all had employment opportunities extended to them by Jocky Petrie, executive development chef for Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, and by other competition judges.
They also enjoyed an interactive session with acclaimed chef and restaurateur Marco Pierre White, which formed part of the Skills for Chefs conference which was held at the University of Sheffield’s Inox venue late last month on Thursday, 29 June.

Students designed an Italian menu based on the southern region of Puglia, delivering a menu that included their award-winning cod fillet starter, seared sirloin, and crispy brisket, followed by pistachio and white chocolate panna cotta, all served up with Pago fruit juices and a range of wines.

Jon Starns, Catering and Hospitality Lead for NWSLC, who helped mentor the students to success in the competition with chef lecturer David Saul, said: “Well done to all three students who performed amazingly well throughout their competition experience.

“They adjusted brilliantly to working without the close support of their mentors in the judging stages and rose to the challenge with great determination and energy.
“They were up against some very tough competition in the final, but all of their hard work, commitment and dedication has been rewarded.

“We are so proud of how far they have come and recognise the number of extra hours of work they put in to get ready for the competition. All three students are great role models to their peers.”
Marion Plant, Principal and Chief Executive of NWSLC, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for our students, and we are very proud of them.

“They have demonstrated great tenacity in working so hard to reach their goals and they have benefited by being introduced to some stellar contacts who have opened up routes into exciting careers following the achievement of their college qualifications. Congratulations to the whole team!”