Teaching excellence celebrated as students earn places in prestigious competition
Double accolade
Ype van der Schaaf, UHI Perth Hospitality and Business Sector Manager has been recognised for his long-standing contribution to culinary education after being awarded the Peter Jukes Fellowship for Education by the Master Chefs of Great Britain.
The award, presented by Chairman George McIvor OBE at a ceremony hosted at UHI Perth, celebrates Ype’s influence in shaping the careers of emerging chefs across Scotland. George praised his impact, describing him as someone whose “calibre, discipline and ambition” are reflected in the students he teaches and mentors.
The recognition comes at a significant moment for UHI Perth’s Hospitality and Food Studies department, with students securing places in the National Heats of the prestigious Toque d’Or competition held in York - one of the UK’s leading showcases for young hospitality talent.
HNC Professional Cookery student Joy Pillo, along with HNC Hospitality students Mathilda Spooner, Taya Allen and Cameron Symon, will all represent UHI Perth in this year’s contest. Securing four competitors from a single college is regarded as a notable achievement within the sector.
UHI Perth Principal Catherine Etri praised both Ype and the students. She said: “Ype’s dedication to nurturing talent, raising standards, and inspiring confidence in our students is having a significant impact on the hospitality sector. This honour is in recognition of his extraordinary commitment to education.”
Catherine added that the students’ success reflects the strength of the wider team and the quality of professional training at UHI Perth. She shared: “We are incredibly proud of Joy, Mathilda, Taya and Cameron for reaching the National Heats of Toque d’Or. They demonstrate the ambition, passion and professionalism we see across our hospitality and professional cookery programmes and wish them every success as they prepare for the next stage of the competition.”
Competing students said the Toque d’Or offers a valuable opportunity to develop their skills and connect with industry professionals. Joy said she was honoured to take part and sees the competition as “an incredible opportunity to challenge myself, learn from some of the best in the industry, and continue developing my skills as a future chef.”
Mathilda highlighted the competition’s role in helping young professionals build confidence, creativity and industry networks. She said being part of Toque d’Or would allow her to “grow professionally, gain hands on experience, and showcase my passion for hospitality at an incredible level.”
Taya described the event as “a brilliant way to build confidence and learn from real industry experiences”, adding that she is passionate about creating memorable experiences for guests.
Meanwhile, Cameron said she was looking forward to “being creative, challenging myself, and meeting others in the industry,” noting that the competition could open doors for future opportunities.
The combination of a national teaching accolade and multiple student successes highlights the strength of hospitality training at UHI Perth, reinforcing the college’s reputation for developing highly skilled talent for Scotland’s fast‑moving hospitality and tourism sector.
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