January 2024: World Young Chef Young Waiter and Young Mixologist is back for 2024, promising to be bigger and better than before. WorldYY welcomes young hospitality professionals who are 28 years old or under from any background, to showcase their talents. This competition provides an incredible opportunity for emerging talents to showcase their skills on a global platform.
Young Chef Young Waiter was established in 1979 and only operated in England for 42 years. Over the past years, the competition has expanded around the world and is now in its 45th year. In 2024, World Young Chef Young Waiter, and Young Mixologist elevated by NEFT Vodka will expand to 15 countries around the world. As we continue to grow, these competitions will offer even greater opportunities for young talents in the culinary and hospitality industries, fostering international collaboration and providing an enriching platform for skill development and professional advancement.
Countries hosting Young Chef Young Waiter:
England, Wales, Scotland, Cayman Islands, Monaco, Singapore, Hong Kong, Ireland, USA, India, Malta, Lithuania, Latvia, Bahamas, Macau and more.
Countries Hosting Young Mixologist organised by WorldYY and elevated by NEFT Vodka:
England, Wales, Scotland, Monaco, Singapore, Hong Kong, Ireland, and the USA.
How to Apply:
- Entry is free for young professional Chefs, Waiters, and Mixologists who are 28 years old or under from any background.
- Applicants entering WordYY must be available to take part in the world final competition scheduled for early November 2024.
- To apply and learn more, visit https://youngchefyoungwaiter.com/enter/.
World Young Chef Young Waiter and Young Mixologist’s mission is to recognise, celebrate and support young talents in the hospitality industry to motivate and inspire them to build successful careers. WorldYY promotes hospitality as a career of choice, a profession, and a vocation. We ensure we provide young chefs, waiters and mixologists with the right tools, resources, and opportunities to also nurture the growth of the next generation of hospitality.
In 2023, WorldYY was held in 9 countries and the World finals were hosted at the iconic Lycée Rainier lll in Monaco. The winners of the competition were announced at the Salle Empire of Hotel de Paris in Monaco, during a special awards dinner and the three winners received a share of the $15,000 grand prize.
During the world finals, finalists had the opportunity to network with hospitality professionals such as Adam Handling MBE of Adam Handling Restaurant Group, Mario Perera Executive Chef at The Dorchester, Adam Thomason Culinary Director at Restaurant Associates, Simon King of Wolseley Hospitality Group, Andy Downton of Burnt Chocolate Consultancy, Anna Sebastian Founder of Celebrates Her and Hospitality, Louise O’Flynn – Head of Ambassadors for Great Campaign UK & Northern Ireland and Kate Nicholls CEO of UKHospitality.
Throughout the competition, finalists faced a series of challenging tasks. Chefs crafted three-course menus, waiters participated in wine pairings, and mixologists created signature serves infused with NEFT Vodka, as well as crafting classic cocktails, all sourced from Monaco’s local market.
To further support the competitions and to educate young talents, WorldYY hosts fundraising events throughout the year including the International Restaurateurs’ Dinner (IRD) and the UKH Restaurant Association Gala Dinner (RA Gala). The IRD will be held on Monday 29th April at the Rosewood London and is a great occasion for all, providing great opportunity for the industry, whilst providing support for young professionals in the hospitality industry. The RA Gala will be held in November and is in association with UKHospitality and partnership with title sponsors NEFT Vodka.
Thank you to the generous support of our esteemed sponsors and partners, including Twiga Group, NEFT Vodka, Lycée Rainer ll, Great Campaign, Crazy Pizza, Champagne PIAFF, Culinary Institute of America, Pure Iconic Water, Monte Carlo Societe Ses Bains de Mer, Hotel de Paris Monte Carlo, Feste Group, ASM Global, The Watermark, Cayman Island Government, Nordaq, Pullman Orchard Singapore, University Wales Trinity Saint David, Savor, Lough Eske Castle, Joblio, More Good, Compass Scotland and Gleneagles Scotland.
Quotations:
Robert Walton MBE, Chairman of WorldYY said: “I’m delighted to see World Young Chef Young Waiter reach its 45th year and now in 2024 the competition will be hosted in 15 countries. The competition will continue to celebrate the young talent in our dynamic industry. The mission of World YCYW is to discover the very best young talent in our field. I am excited to see WorldYY to further grow in 2024 and I encourage all young talents in hospitality to join. I also extend heartfelt thanks to all our sponsors and partners for their continued encouragement.
Sean Valentine FIH, Managing Director of WorldYY said: “I am truly excited by the prospects that 2024 holds for us. The expansion of the competition to 15 countries signifies not just a leap in scale but a boundless opportunity for young talents worldwide. World Young Chef Young Waiter and Young Mixologist has evolved from a UK competition to a competition held around the globe. The competition aims to support young hospitality professionals to motivate and inspire them to create successful and sustainable careers in the hospitality industry. I look forward to seeing what 2024 brings and to meeting our contestants from around the world.”
Rob Edwards, Co-founder of Wine&Earth and CFO of WorldYCYW: “I have been fortunate enough to have been involved in the competition for 5 years and judged across multiple countries and ever competitor, let alone winner, comes out of this competition full of opportunities. It’s a competition that can change the lives of young hospitality talent and gives a global platform to showcase the talent they have to offer and provide once in a lifetime experiences.”
Simon King of Wolseley Hospitality Group said: “The Young Chef Young Waiter is the longest standing industry competition and the only one that has the chefs and waiters working together. It’s designed to showcase, educate, inspire up and coming talent from all areas of the hospitality profession.
Another unique aspect of this competition is network and the unity that is created both within the competitors and the judges.
I know from first-hand experience that this competition can really be career defining, it’s something that every ambitious young professional should experience.”
Adam Handling MBE of Adam Handling Restaurant Group said: “YCYW is such an important competition, and I can’t wait to see what the contestants will bring this year. This competition encourages the next generation of enthusiastic young talent in hospitality roles and pushes them to be the best that they can be. The restaurant world is changing and YCYW is there to help them evolve and adapt, nurturing the exciting and fresh talent they already bring.”
Kate Nicholls CEO of UKHospitality said: “The Young Chef Young Waiter competition is a fantastic initiative that showcases the enormously talented people working within hospitality. I’m pleased to hear that the competition will be expanding into 15 countries this year, widening its reach, and promoting hospitality as a career of choice to many more young people. I look forward to meeting with the contestants and fellow supporters of the competition at the UKHospitality Restaurant Association Gala Dinner in November 2024 and raising funds to support the future of the initiative.”
Paul Robinson, Chief Creative Officer of NEFT Vodka said: “What I love so much about theYCYWYM Competition, is that it focuses heavily on education, collaboration, and innovation. It teaches these young creatives how to hone their skills, perform on a global stage, further their careers, and become an integral element in the future of hospitality. It brings many opportunities to its participants that may otherwise not have been available to them. NEFT Vodka, and I personally, enthusiastically support this program.”
Tegan Waters from Feste Group said: “Our industry has had a tough time through protests and Covid, so when we got the opportunity to do YCYW Hong Kong, it made us really excited to be able to highlight the young talent that had stuck it out in the hard times because of their unwavering passion for food and hospitality. Even in just the first year, we’ve created such an amazing community of people who want to learn, mentor, and support each other – and it’s just a really fun experience that we’re extremely proud to be a part of.”
Dr Jayne Griffith-Parry the University of Wales Trinity Academic Director said: ‘YY is an outstanding competition that allows aspiring young hospitality professionals to showcase their developing talent’.
‘At the University of Wales Trinity St David as license holders we are proud to support this competition for Wales, and see this as an intrinsic part of the ethos within our Hospitality programmes, promoting professionalism, initiative, entrepreneurship, and preparation for future employment opportunities’.’
‘As a former hospitality professional and restaurateur, I feel it essential, that skill s displayed, shared and promoted, and this s the best way to do it across our businesses brining all essential elements for success together’
About YM
The Young Mixologist competition elevated by NEFT Vodka further promotes hospitality as a career of choice, a profession, and a vocation. The Young Mixologist competition aims to acknowledge young and outstanding talents behind the bar in the hospitality industry. In today’s restaurant scene, mixologists have become the new rockstars. Crafting fabulous cocktails, making exquisite food, and providing excellent service are the keys to success. The Young Mixologist competition designed for individuals aged 28 and younger, aims to recognise the talent and expertise required to craft exceptional cocktails.
The Young Mixologist competition started in 2022 in Monaco and now in 2023 has taken place in 4 countries around the world. In 2024, the YM competition is expanding to more countries around the world giving more opportunities to the many outstanding talents in the hospitality industry. Celebrating the extraordinary young talent who push the boundaries of mixology and elevate cocktail-making to new heights.
About WYCYW
Since its establishment in 1979, the Young Chef Young Waiter competition has continued to promote hospitality as a career of choice, a profession, and a vocation. Today, with its new revitalised format Young Chef Young Waiter continues to honour the next culinary and service stars globally. World Young Chef Young Waiter, in partnership with Great Campaign UK and Northern Ireland and the Culinary Institute of America, mission to discover the best young talents in the industry. The competition is open to Young Chefs and waiters under the age of 28 from diverse backgrounds and WYCYW ensures these young talents are equipped with relevant skills, current knowledge, and a network to help them succeed in the world of hospitality.
In 2022, the competition marked a significant milestone by expanding its reach to a global audience, with participants from seven countries striving for the title of World Young Chef Young Waiter Champion. Building on this success, the competition returned in 2023, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the global hospitality industry and providing an expansive stage for the cultivation of creativity, education, and innovation that knows no geographical bounds, the event promises to surpass all previous iterations in size, quality, and sustainability.
Notes to editors:
The World Young Chef Young Waiter competition, established in 1979 in partnership with UKHospitality and the Restaurant Association. The competition promotes hospitality as a career of choice, a profession, and an avocation. The competition is open to all young chefs and waiters from any background under the age of 28.
For enquiries, images, & interview requests please contact kareena@ycywawards.com
Follow Young Chef Young Waiter on social media:
Twitter @worldycyw |Instagram @worldycyw | Facebook youngchefyoungwaiter
LinkedIn YCYW |. YouTube YCYWWebsite-youngchefyoungwaiter.com
Editors’ Note:
The GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland campaign is a programme to drive economic growth across the nation by encouraging an international audience to visit, study and do business with the UK. It was set up in 2011 and promotes the best of the UK in 164 countries around the world, consistently generating a strong return on investment averaging 15.1. @greatbritain (Twitter) @greatcampaign (Instagram)
17th January 2024
