Star line-up wows at Skills for Chefs 2025

The annual Skills for Chefs Conference has once again brought together some of the UK’s most celebrated chefs and hospitality professionals.

Hosted at the University of Sheffield and Sheffield College, the two-day event delivered a powerful mix of inspiration, technical brilliance and professional insight to hundreds of chefs and educators in June.

The event aims to showcase the talents of leading chefs, share skills and knowledge, spotlight topical issues affecting chefs and to network with colleagues and suppliers in the UK’s culinary industry.

Flying the flag for the pub sector was Michael Wignall, chef patron of The Angel at Hetton and holder of one Michelin star. Presenting to a packed room of industry peers, Wignall delivered a complex, multi-layered lamb dish. His session offered a glimpse into his relentless pursuit of refinement, a trademark of his long-standing success in the industry.

"It’s incredible to see such talent sharing their knowledge so generously," says event organiser David McKown MBE. "This conference is about equipping chefs at all stages of their careers with the skills and confidence to thrive, and once again Sheffield has provided the perfect stage for that."

Who else was on the line-up?

The conference opened in style with a captivating Audience with Aktar Islam, the Birmingham-based chef and restaurateur behind the two-Michelin-starred Opheem. 

Gareth Ward, the powerhouse behind the two-Michelin-starred Ynyshir in Wales, demonstrated how boundary-pushing technique can still honour core ingredients.

Following Ward was Adam Smith, executive chef of Woven by Adam Smith at Coworth Park, while the sweet side of the industry took centre stage as Lewis Wilson, executive pastry chef at The Ritz London, delivered a series of masterclasses (pictured). 

One of the highlights of the conference was the joint session between Tom Booton, head chef at The Dorchester Grill, and Martin Eccles from AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board).

The Chefs Panel Discussion featured Tim Allen, Jean Delport, Ruth Hansom and Alice Power. 

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