A TRIO of talented chefs returned to their place of education to share their to tips with the current cohort.

Arion Christophers, Fraser Hawkins and Elizabeth Bastable from the Exclusive Chefs’ Academy headed back to City College Brighton and Hove to share their skills with current catering students for a sell-out graduates’ dinner at the College’s Gallery restaurant.

In July 2015, having just completed their studies at City College, the three embarked on an intensive two-year programme under the mentoring and leadership of Exclusive’s award-winning chefs.

The Exclusive Chefs’ Academy programme has been designed to develop young chefs’ skills, reward their talent with full time employment and further their career in some of the best restaurants in the South of England.

Fraser Hawkins said: “It was a pleasure for me to be involved in this event because City College gave me the qualifications and push I needed to become a better chef and help me progress in my career.

“Because the College has a strong link with the Exclusive Chefs' Academy and promotes it to students, it created an amazing opportunity for me.

“It was really rewarding to come back and show current students what I’ve picked up at the Academy as I’ve learnt so many new techniques and methods of becoming a better, more efficient chef.

“For the Graduates’ Dinner event, it made life so much easier that the current students definitely know their stuff.

“When they’re asked to do a job, they know straight away what’s required and you don’t have to mollycoddle them.”