Positioned as the ultimate educational scholarship that any aspiring chef in Scotland could receive, the Andrew Fairlie Scholarship is a fantastic opportunity for any chef looking to grow their knowledge and gain experience within world renowned establishments.
Andrew Fairlie Scholarship
2026 competition opens on Monday 3rd August
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2026 competition opens on Monday 3rd August -
Applications open each year from August to September, with the final skills test in November. The judges will be looking for a chef with similar values, both personally and professionally, that Andrew had, and his restaurant continues to display, so the right attitude is key, along with professionalism and integrity.
Supported by HIT Scotland, The Gleneagles Hotel, Restaurant Andrew Fairlie and Perth College UHI, the Andrew Fairlie Scholarship launched in 2019, with the late Andrew Fairlie spearheading the initiative in partnership with HIT Scotland – an industry charity he was closely associated with.
Thank you to the Scottish Government for their support which allowed us to create this scholarship, and for their continued support.
“Each year I look forward to seeing what Scotland’s aspiring chefs will create and serve up to us.
The judges will be looking to see a clear demonstration of the applicants’ skills and knowledge but also want to see and feel their creativity, flair, and personality.
At the end of the day, we are not necessarily looking for a Michelin starred chef. What we are searching for is someone with a sharp eye for details and really clean set of skills. Someone who is driven to learn and improve their craft and to elevate themselves and others toward a higher level.”
Lead Judge and Head Chef at Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, Stephen McLaughlin
The Winners
Each year the winning chef will receive a variety of once-in-a-lifetime educational experiences, to be taken over a couple of years, enabling them to continue to develop their skills and experience, and grow in their career. Here are our winners so far.
Click to read the story of their Final, and see some video highlights of the day.
2025
Michael Sutherland
2024
Andrew Clark
2023
Rachel Bremner & Darren Seggie
2022
Eddie Brown
2021
Josh Wilkinson and Amy Stephenson
2019
Emma-Rose Milligan and Joe Harte
Judging Process
The judging process will involve some of the most talented Chefs in the UK, with an array of Michelin Stars between them. The judges have varied year to year.
Initially, there will be a paper judgement. You will show us your knowledge and creativity by creating a specific dish. We also want to learn a bit more about you as a chef. From this, up to 6 chefs will be chosen to take part in the Grand Final.
The Grand Final will be a skills test where you will show your knowledge, ability and your personal values. You may have to cook the dish from your application, or you may have some other culinary challenge! This will take place at UHI Perth.
The Andrew Fairlie Scholarship judging panel will decide who will win based on the skills test, the quality of their application, and the passion that they have shown for the industry. This will be one chef, and this will be announced at the end of the Grand Final day, at The Gleneagles Hotel.
Prizes
The aim of the prizes is to be eduational, but also inspirational and motivational!
Educational trip to France with Grande Cuisine
Grande Cuisine are a supplier of prime cooking equipment to the hospitality sector and worked with Andrew to supply the main cook suite at Restaurant Andrew Fairlie.
Stephen Hobbs, Director at Grande Cuisine said: “Andrew was a great supporter of ours in our younger ‘business’ days and helped in establishing our business, allowing us to get where we are today. We have since created the Grande Cuisine Academy, a not for profit online resource that is completely free for Chef Lectures and Students to utilise as part of their hospitality courses and into their careers, and we organise an educational visit to France for young chefs. The visit is designed to give chefs an inspirational trip to the heart of gastronomic France, visiting Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse food market, the Chartreuse region and Sandrine Chappaz Chocolatier, and a visit to the Athanor factory, with some French dining. We’re delighted to give something back to the industry in Andrew’s name, and have the winner of the Andrew Fairlie Scholarship join us for this experience.”
Stage at Restaurant Andrew Fairlie
The first stage the winner will do is at Restaurant Andrew Fairlie. Head Chef Stephen McLaughlin and his team give the winner an insight into the consistency and quality required for a 2 Michelin star restaurant. The winner gets to spend time on the different sections, and get involved with prep through to service.
Find out how our winners got on during their stage.
Stage at Core by Clare Smyth
The winner’s second stage will be at 3 Michelin star Core by Clare Smyth in London. This coveted rating is the highest that the Michelin Guide awards to restaurants it believes provide ‘exceptional cuisine, worth a journey’, so a fantastic chance to see how this is achieved.
Read Emma’s story of her stage here.
Chef’s jacket
All our finalists receive a personalised chef’s jacket, showing they are an Andrew Fairlie Scholarship Finalist. Thanks to Yourtex, Luxury Textiles and now Goodfellows for providing these over the years.