As more focus is put on the skills shortage in kitchens across the country, employers are being urged to put forward their young chefs for the examination scheme, now in its fifth year, which aims to hone the knowledge and capabilities of young chefs in the workplace. Not only will participants have the chance to sharpen their culinary skills in a series of challenging examinations, there are some great prizes up for grabs for those that make the grade. As well as gaining an industry recognised achievement on their CV, graduates will enjoy a host of prizes this year, including study tours to Luxembourg with Villeroy & Boch and Scotland with James Knight of Mayfair, as well as a grand prize for the highest achiever in the final exam, which will be revealed nearer the time. "Not only do the prizes offer great experiences for the graduates, but the opportunities for the young chefs that take part in the Graduate Awards are endless," says Steve Munkley, vice president of the Craft Guild of Chefs, and the driving force behind the Awards. "Last year's top achiever, Steven Wilson, went on to become a member of the Craft Guild's Culinary Academy on the back of his success in the Graduate Awards and competed as part of the team at Hotelympia. Sophie Wright, who came top in 2006, has since gone on to great things and the industry is really starting to see this accreditation on people's CVs as something of worth. "People realise they are assessed by some of the top chefs in London and they don't get through it lightly. It's amazing what doors it can open." Following the first round of examinations at Thames Valley University on June 19, this year's final will take place on September 4 at Westminster Kingsway College. • Deadline for applications is April 15. For more details and an entry form please visit www.craftguildofchefs.org or call 0208 948 3870.