Acorn winners 2011 – Neil Morris

Age 28
Position Group executive chef, Ego Restaurants
Nominator James Horler
Proudest career moment When I was approached by Ego's chief exec, James Horler, to ask me to step up from head chef at Ego Lichfield to be Ego's Group executive chef. It was a massive promotion for me.
Greatest inspiration I get the most inspiration from developing, training and coaching the more junior chefs I work with and seeing them excel.
Ambition I want to succeed, hone, develop and improve my skills and abilities so I can build on the skills I already have. Perhaps one day I will have my own restaurant/group.

Neil Morris's nominator describes him as a totally driven, passionate and professional chef. His career took in such venues as Le Manoir, Quo Vadis and Manchester's River Room, before he joined Ego Restaurants in 2008 as head chef at the Heswall branch. His obvious skills saw him promoted to the role of head chef at the group's flagship Lichfield restaurant a year later.

Neil is now Ego's group executive chef, responsible for a team of 60 chefs.