Students help launch Scottish Baker of the Year

City of Glasgow College NQ bakery students marked the launch of the 2022 Scottish Baker of the Year competition.

The five final year students, Maryam Mehdizadehkasari, Kellyanne McClymont, Brian Behan, Diane Cleland, and Rebecca Balmforth, were challenged with creating ‘Scotland on a Cake’ as they went head-to-head in a 45-minute cake decorating competition.

Diane and Maryam were the joint winners and will benefit from a day’s work experience at Mimi’s Bakehouse in Edinburgh, the reigning Scottish Bakers Bakery Café of the Year. All five students will enjoy a day at competition sponsor BAKO’s test kitchen in Preston, learning about future trends and innovations in the sector.

Diane was excited but nervous about taking part, saying: "I'm so glad I did, regardless of whether I won or not, I was pleased to be part of such a great event. I've learned a lot, as in what to expect as I've never been part of a competition before and I'm totally over the moon about being a joint winner. It was totally unexpected."

Maryam added: "Taking part in an important competition with my classmates was a fabulous experience. I didn't think so much about winning and the prize, but I'm very happy to have won."

Paul Little, Principal and Chief Executive at City of Glasgow College, said, 

“Our College has a well-deserved reputation for excellence in culinary arts and bakery, and I am delighted that our NQ level 6 bakery students were able to showcase their skills for the launch of Scottish Baker of the Year. Our own City Market, run by our bakery students and staff, has previously won a number of product prizes at regional and national level so we are very aware of the impact and value which this prestigious competition generates.”      

Aileen O’Meara, Curriculum Head for Culinary Arts at City of Glasgow College, added:

“We are very proud of all five students for taking part and huge congratulations go to Diane and Maryam for their winning designs. This was an incredibly valuable experience for them all, giving them an opportunity to see what it is like to work under intense pressure which is a big part of the job. They’ve all been preparing hard for this event and it certainly paid off on the day, creating some stunning decorations as judges and the media watched on.”

The launch event officially opened voting for the Scottish Baker of the Year Customer Choice awards, where shoppers vote for their favourite baker. A winner will be identified in four business categories, craft baker, retail craft baker, wholesale baker and bakery café.

Scottish Bakers President Linda Hill said, “We are delighted to give the public a say with our Customer Choice awards. It’s a great opportunity for members to reach out to their customers and communities and get people buzzing about great, traditional Scottish baking. It’s really easy to vote too, ask your baker for their unique QR code to scan, or a voting form in store now or log on to the competition website www.bakeroftheyear.scot to vote.

Voting opened on 3 February and runs until 6 April. Winners will be announced at a Gala dinner in the Glasgow Hilton on Saturday 7 May 2022.