Top city chef Michael Caines has received a prestigious award at a ceremony in the House of Commons. The Michelin chef was one of six former college students honoured by the Association of Colleges Charitable Trust with a Gold Award.

The awards recognised the vital role further education played in the careers of those honoured.

Mr Caines received his award alongside members of the band Arctic Monkeys Alex Helders and Matt Turner; Microsoft games producer Joanne Clowes; Hazel Blears MP; chief executive of drinks giant Diageo, Paul Walk; and choreographer and dancer Henri Oguike.

The event was hosted by MP Kelvin Hopkins and the awards were handed over by President of the AoC Charitable Trust, Paralympic gold medallist Giles Long.

Mr Caines, who runs a restaurant at the Royal Clarence Hotel, now called ABode, in Cathedral Yard, attended Exeter College in the late 1980s where he completed Level 1 and 2 catering courses.

He went on to win the student of the year award from the college in 1987. It was a tutor at the college who encouraged him to pursue a career in London where he gained experience with prestigious chefs.

Mr Caines said: “I attended Exeter College to complete catering courses levels one and two, which develop basic skills and knowledge for any chef. “The college not only supported me throughout these courses though, my tutor was instrumental in helping me to make the move to London where I was able to gain experience with prestigious chefs.”

Mr Caines returned to Devon after working in France and London. He lost his right arm in a car accident but was determined to continue cooking and took up the position of head chef at Gidleigh Park, a country house hotel near Chagford on Dartmoor.

He has since created links with his former college and other local schools and colleges to promote the food and drinks industry. To highlight the important role further education plays, the AoC Charitable Trust is running a mini-me campaign.

Current Exeter student Dominic Greenhalgh is in his second year of studying for his NVQ Catering course.

Dominic met Mr Caines at the Gold Awards presentation ceremony and had the chance to chat with his idol on how he achieved success.