Application forms are now available for prospective entrants to the Restaurant Association's annual Young Chef Young Waiter competition.

Now in its 25th year, Young Chef Young Waiter is the premier competition for both young chefs and young waiters working in the UK hospitality industry today.

Entrance to the competition is an essential way for the rising stars of our industry to expand their learning and experience, and enhance both their own and their establishments' reputation.

The competition, whos headline sponsor for 2009 is Von Essen hotels has been enhanced for the 25th year and includes the following prizes:

Prizes courtesy of the Savoy Educational Trust will be awarded at each Regional Final to the four chefs and four waiters selected to go through to the National Final.

First Prize:

£2,000 for each winner, plus a three-day culinary course sponsored by S.Pellegrino at the University of Alma, based in Parma, Italy. The prize includes practical courses on food, wine and water with culinary tutorials by top chefs. Winners will further enhance their knowledge of the kind of cheeses, Parmiagiano Reggiano, as well as famous Italian meats, such as salami.

Second Prize: £1,000 for each runner-up, plus a two night break in Von Essen's Lewtrenchard Manor in Devon, with a taster menu and wines at the recently launched private dining concept 'Purple Carrot'. The hotel's cuisine is famed for its use of home-grown garden produce. A tour of the wine cellar, a hosted trip to the local beef supplier and two tickets to the Eden project are part of the prize, courtesy of von Essen hotels.

Third Prize:

Third placed chef and waiter will receive £500 each plus a day's experience at one of Sodexo's most prestigious contracts followed by an exclusive dining experience, courtesy of Sodexo.

All cash prizes are courtesy of the Savoy Educational Trust

Closing date for entries: Tuesday, 7 July 2009

For further details please contact Pauline Jackson at the BHA either by email [email protected] or please call +44 (0)20 7269 9686.

For further details of the competition and to download the application form please visit the Young Chef Young Waiter website at www.bha.org.uk/ycyw