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Now in its fifth year, the promotion offers school chefs the opportunity to spend a day in the kitchens of some of the most exclusive restaurants in the country, working alongside some of the most celebrated chefs in the catering industry, demonstrating the breadth and depth of talent of today’s education caterers.

Previously 'Host a School Chef' has been part of National School Meals Week. However, it is now being recognised as a standalone promotion in LACA’s ever-growing portfolio of events.

LACA chair of events Neil Porter said: “The success of the Host a School Chef programme over the past four years has been absolutely amazing; the list of venues participating in 2017 was akin to reading the Michelin Star Guide!

“It became clear that it was a robust enough activity for LACA to expand upon and launch as an event in its own right. We are grateful to YPO for their support and enabling this to become a reality.”

Last year, The Ritz Hotel London, Rick Stein’s Sandbanks Restaurant and the Chester Grosvenor were among the venues taking part.

The organisers are keen to hear from school caterers who want to take part and take advantage of working in such venues.

Once again, the Craft Guild of Chefs is supporting the event and is encouraging its members to host a school chef.

Darren Byford, business food buyer for YPO, said: “YPO is a great supporter of the education catering industry at large and recognises the dedication and professionalism of school caterers across the country. We are pleased to support LACA in its quest to showcase just how good they are and we are confident, that together, we can help ‘Host a School Chef’ go from strength to strength."