A teenager who taught himself to cook in lockdown. A shy schoolgirl who becomes a different person in the kitchen. Both are proof that the great chefs of the future are out there. With help from the Springboard FutureChef Competition and mentorship programme, they’re getting ready to change the industry.

Inspired to pursue a career in hospitality, 18-year-old Nathan Strachan and 15-year old Reese Ventura have shown that, when it comes to creating fantastic food under pressure, there’s no substitute for having a role model and friend who can give you a little bit of help.

When did you first get interested in cooking?

I started baking aged three and was always telling my mum to let me do it on my own. I’m quite shy but I’m a different person in the kitchen. It just feels natural.

Did school help develop your love of cooking?

I loved Food Tech, but it wasn’t until I got a bit older that I realised just how much. Now I’m starting to realise I could make a career out of it.

How did FutureChef help?

They talked to our teachers and asked if anyone wanted to join a cooking competition, a bit like a mini Masterchef. I did a Korean bibimbap, a rice bowl of seasoned sautéed vegetables, marinated beef, fried egg and the spicy sauce and they seemed to like it.

How did you first hear about FutureChef?

The same as Reese. I made pasta with a trout and cheese sauce in the heats, but I went into the competition a bit blind, and the dishes weren’t very good. I didn’t get any further.

Did that put you off?

No. Covid came and I started to cook even more at home during lockdown, experimenting and putting pictures on Instagram. I was on a cooking course at college but was only there six months because I was offered a job at Dean Banks at the Pompadour.

What happened then?

I’ve worked at Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen and am now at Michelin-starred Unalome by Graeme Cheevers in Glasgow. I’ve had job offers from London, but I’ve learned so much from Graeme. He was a FutureChef winner himself and knows the importance of letting me put my own things on a menu.

Has the support been helpful?

The help you get from the mentors and supporters of FutureChef gives you confidence to express yourself and be brave.

• Springboard FutureChef competition is celebrating its 25th year and is the biggest school culinary competition in the UK.
• The programme gives young chefs of the future unrivalled access to the industry as well as developing confidence, life skills and knowledge of healthy eating and nutrition.
• It offers continuous support to teachers and educators through industry-based competitions and modules aligned to the food-related curriculum.
• The charity has a network of chefs who mentor students, judge at competitions and share their knowledge and skills through Culinary Careers Sessions.
• Since the programme began, it has helped 214,000 young people to cook, many of them going on to become successful chefs.