A young aspiring chef from County Durham is celebrating after being crowned the regional winner as part of a national competition to find the UK’s top young chef. Maisie Crank won a spot in the final after impressing the judges during the regional heat, hosted at Sheffield Hallam University.
Maisie Crank, age 13, from Sedgefield Community College, beat tough competition from local students and will now head to London this March to represent the North-East of England in the UK-wide Springboard FutureChef 2026 final.
Now in its 27th year, Springboard FutureChef is the UK’s largest school culinary competition, with a long list of successful alumni, including Poppy O’Toole, the self-entitled ‘Potato Queen’ of Instagram, Tom Hamblet, winner of Masterchefs the Professionals and Young MasterChef finalist, Bobby Odu, the owner of Bobby Bakes. Throughout the competition, participants are mentored and judged by all-star Springboard FutureChef Champions and supporters, with Lead Judge for 2026 being the multi-award-winning Chef, Chantelle Nicholson.
Maisie Crank blew judges away with her winning main of Signature Curried Chicken on Lentil Puy & Bhaji, followed by a Molten Chocolate Fondant with a Chantilly Cloud for dessert. Speaking about the impressive win, Maisie Crank said: “During the preparation and cooking process, the kitchen was fast and stressful. Once I had made everything, I loved the creativity and the flare of presenting the dish, it was amazing!”.
Designed to develop the next generation of chefs, the programme connects students from diverse backgrounds with chefs, employers and mentors. It provides early access to skills, guidance and real-world experience, supporting long-term career progression and building a more diverse, resilient workforce.
FutureChef Lead Judge 2026, Chantelle Nicholson comments: “For our industry to grow in a way that is innovative, resilient, and genuinely sustainable, we must open doors for everyone. Programmes like Springboard FutureChef play an essential role in encouraging young people from all backgrounds, helping them overcome obstacles and find their place in the kitchen. It’s a privilege to be part of an initiative that supports such a vibrant and representative new generation of chefs.”
Finalists from the regional heats taking place across the country from now through to February, will advance to the National Final in March. The National Final celebrations begin with a dinner on 22 March 2026 at the Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park, followed by the National Final itself on 23 March 2026 at Capital City College in Westminster.
Springboard FutureChef headline sponsors include Savoy Educational Trust, Worshipful Company of Cooks and Country Range. To see the full list of sponsors, visit https://futurechef.uk.net/sponsors
For more information on FutureChef, visit https://futurechef.uk.net/
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
