Scottish Student Chef of the Year 2025
We’re back to find the 2025 Knorr Professional Scottish Student Chef of the Year
Lecturers, do you think your college has what it takes?
Student Chef of the Year Awards 2025
After the success of our first Scottish awards, we are excited to be back for another year! More than just a competition, the Knorr Professional Student Chef of the Year helps support the future generation of chefs, providing a vital platform for young talent to showcase their creativity, build confidence, and gain the real-world experience that will shape their careers. Our judges are successful chefs who know what it takes to succeed. Their role is not just to judge, but to mentor, offering guidance and insights to help students reach their full potential throughout the competition.
This years theme: Feel good food
Head chef for Unilever and judge James Brown says, “This year’s theme is all about the feel-good factor. It’s time to rethink healthy eating and create vibrant, nutrient-rich dishes that look stunning and taste amazing. The brief will challenge students to explore how food can nourish not just the body, but also the mind and soul, without sacrificing flavour, while incorporating bouillon as a key ingredient. Kitchens are packed with ingredients that can revive and restore - now it’s our turn to bring them to life!”
Already have ideas and want to start practising?
Finals day: what to expect
For a sneak peek, click play to watch our 2024 video overview!
On the 26th March, the competition finals will be held at City of Glasgow College. The head chef, supported by their assistant, will prepare a two course meal (main and dessert) while the assistant completes a skills test. The day will end with an awards ceremony to celebrate the talent and hard work of all the participants.
Back for 2025: Chef Gary
Scotland’s national chef, and a proud Scotsman, chef Gary Maclean will be on our judging panel again this year! Who better to evaluate Scotland’s rising culinary talent?
Get inspired by his incredible recipes here.
Incredible prizes
Prizes will be awarded to first, second, and third place students, with the overall winner, their lecturer, and assistant receiving an all-expensespaid trip to Italy that is designed to both educate and inspire.
Accessibility & funding
It is important to us that the competition is accessible to all, so funding will be made available to support student’s participation.*
If you have any questions, email ScottishSCOTY@OMNE.agency
The importance of competitions
Find out why chef Adam Handling MBE considers competitions like the Knorr Professional Chef Student of the Year to be an imperative opportunity for future generations of the industry.
How to support
If you share our passion for supporting the future generation of chefs and want to contribute to the competition, we’d love to hear from you! Email us at ScottishSCOTY@Omne.agency or speak with your Unilever sales representative.
*Funding will only be available for those who reach the live final stage.
