The chefs, who are aged 23 or below, will have to prepare to take on a number of culinary challenges at the events, which will be held at Sheffield College and Cardinal Wiseman School Greenford.
Those who succeed in the semi-finals will progress to the next round for the final exam on 28 August at University College Birmingham, where for a candidate to succeed they must score 85 per cent or above in the final exam to gain the title of Graduate. The results will be announced in an awards ceremony on 5 September at the Landmark Hotel.
When discussing the finalists, awards organiser and Craft Guild vice president Steve Munkley said: “Last year the standard was unbelievably high but looking at the paper entries we’re set for an exciting few months of competitions with lots of new and upcoming talent.
"My advice to these 20 chefs would be to spend as much time as possible practicing for the day and gaining experience and knowledge from their mentors. Becoming a Graduate is not easy, but we look forward to seeing which candidates rise to the challenge and join the fantastic chefs who sit in the Graduates hall of fame.”
Chefs advancing to the semi-finals are:
- Ruth Hansom, The Ritz
- Reece Cosier, Landmark Hotel
- Wayne Herrington, Landmark Hotel
- Connor Godfrey, The Ritz
- Victoria Scupham, Royal Household
- Amrik Modher, Cinnamon Kitchen
- Nicholas Cottrell, Dolphin House Brasserie
- Tom Lawson, Rafters Kitchen
- Matthew Ramsdale, The Lime Kiln
- Harvey Noy, Scott’s Restaurant
- Joe Bose, House of Commons
- John Grabecki, Galvin@Windows
- Ross McMillan, Stirling Management Centre
- Andrew Fyfe, Stirling Management Centre
- Oliver Snowden, General Torleton
- Sam Levi, Saunton Sands Hotel
- James Newton, Royal Garden Hotel
- Andre Rhone
- Aleksandar Todorov
- William Breese