Exeter College students triumphed by winning a stunning medal tally – including four Gold medals – at the prestigious UK Premier Young Culinary Contest.

Students in hospitality and catering from the college shined at the recent Major Series South West regional heat. In total, the students achieved a medal haul of four Gold Medals, two Silver Medals, four Bronze Medals, and one Certificate of Merit.

A platform for up and coming chefs of the future to showcase their skills, the Major Series is an annual competition led by Major International and The Craft Guild of Chefs, and features a number of regional heats. This year’s regional heat was held at South Devon College and featured a series of live challenges and restaurant skills that test chefs across a range of categories.

Gold Medal winner Robert Wykes, who is 19, won Gold in the Restaurant Skills category, as well as the accolade for Best in Class. Robert, who previously studied at Exmouth Community College before coming to Exeter College, is studying for his Diploma in Food and Beverage Service Supervision (Level 3).

Robert, who lives just outside Crediton, said: “It was absolutely incredible. I was shocked. I had a great time at the competition, all the other competitors were lovely and all their entries were equally impressive.”

Another Gold winner was Rose Nevill, who won Gold in the Street Food category. Other Gold award winners were Jade Fletcher in the Assorted Coffees category, and Megan Field, also in the Assorted Coffees category.

John Laramy, Exeter College Principal and Chief Executive said: “I’d like to congratulate all of our students who took part in this prestigious competition. The total medal tally was a stunning. It’s an amazing achievement.”

Are you passionate about food and drink and want to prepare, cook and serve great food? Then come and train at Exeter College’s professional industry standard kitchens, and study food and drink in our lecture rooms.

Exeter College has a wide range of hospital and catering courses available starting in September 2018, including the Michael Caines Academy, supported by the celebrity chef and entrepreneur Michael Caines MBE. See our website for more: https://www.exe-coll.ac.uk/1618/Subjects/HospitalityAndCatering