Jodie Cochrane named Springboard's FutureChef

Jodie Cochrane, 16, of Trinity High School, Glasgow has beat eleven other contestants for the title of Springboard FutureChef 2020.

Cochrane impressed the judges with her main of steamed chicken supreme with stuffed tomatoes, vegetables and Spätzle, served with a wholegrain mustard cream sauce, and a gluten-free dessert of dark chocolate brownie with peanut butter ice-cream, caramelized bananas and butterscotch sauce.

All the young school competitors worked hard at the competition and Cochrane was closely followed by runners up, Maisie Speller, 14, from Notley High School in Essex and Jessica Batchelor, 15, from Aboyne Academy in Aberdeenshire.

2020 marks the 20th year of the FutureChef competition, which consists of four heats – with schools, local, regional and national finals. This year saw 15,358 students involved in the competition from the earliest stages, whittled down to the 12 chefs in this week's final which took place at Westminster Kingsway College, London, yesterday.

Chef Brian Turner, who has been involved with Springboard's FutureChef since the competition's inception believes the programme is vital for educating young people about nutrition and getting them into the industry.

He said: "There are two reasons why we need FutureChef. The first is that there isn't nearly enough domestic science and food tech being taught today, so young people aren't learning the basic skills of cooking that sustain their way of living. Secondly, it encourages people to develop their skills and enter into the industry."

Cochrane delighted with her win, added: "It's amazing, I can't stop smiling. It was so enjoyable, more fun than stress. Just such a great experience! I would never in a million years have thought I could win."

Main picture: Chef Brian Turner, Jodie Cochrane and David Mulcahy, culinary director, Sodexo