Going for gold: catering managers Daniel French and Jake Fawcett go for NHS Chef of the Year 2026
Congratulations to our catering managers Daniel French and Jake Fawcett who booked their place in the finals of the NHS Chef of the Year 2026 competition.
Our talented duo were back again representing the Trust, after their first ever experience of the competition last year. We’re delighted to announce Daniel and Jake won the Yorkshire/North East regional heat, held at The Sheffield College, and will now participate in the national final at Edgbaston, Birmingham from 5-8 October.
Organised by NHS England, they were tasked to create a three-course meal within a £6-8 budget with specific dietary, nutritional and sustainability requirements. The team put their skills to the test and showcased their abilities in the annual event to celebrate excellence in NHS catering, with a strong focus on nutrition, flavour, sustainability, and patient-focused innovation.
Jake said; “The whole experience on the day was amazing, meeting teams from other trusts and the feedback we received from the judges. The level of support on the day from competing teams and people supporting the heat was a real testament to the meaning of what the competition represents. We are over the moon to have achieved what we have while representing the Trust, with the opportunity to showcase the level of food we are aiming to achieve within our catering department.”
“The support around us has been a brilliant and shows what can be achieved when we live the Trust values. A massive thank you to everyone who has offered kind words to me and Daniel. As we move towards the final, I feel like I am already a winner as I said above, the support and collaboration with colleagues have made the experience worth even more.”
The comments received by the judges for their outstanding performance included:
“Congratulations on your fantastic performance at the Sheffield Heat of NHS Chef 2026. The standard of competition was exceptionally high, and you should be incredibly proud of what you achieved. Your skill, professionalism, creativity, and commitment to producing outstanding food under competition conditions were evident throughout the day, and your performance deservedly earned you a place in the NHS Chef 2026 Final.”
Well done to both Daniel and Jake for your fantastic achievement, everyone at the Trust wish you the best of luck with the final next month.
