Calling All Aspiring Young Bakers!
Are you passionate about baking? Are you looking for a way to kick-start your baking career? Then we want to hear from you! Matthews Cotswold Flour is placing young bakers up and down the country with award winning artisan bakeries now. Four young bakers will be chosen each year, with each being placed with one of our partner bakeries for one week.
You need to be aged between 18 and 30 when you apply, no experience is necessary, and you must have a keen interest in learning to bake and pursuing a career in baking. Please note that this is not a paid opportunity, but an experiential placement, with a bunch of baking extras included from MCF and our industry partners.
November Winner Announced
We’ve just announced that Thomas Hall has won the Young Baker Award for October / November 2024 - huge congratulations to Thomas!
What You'll Get
An exclusive one-week baking placement with one of the best bakeries in the UK. We'll work closely with the winners to match you up with the best bakery for you. This process will take into account your location, your baking interests, and your baking goals.
How it Works
We will review applications four times a year, choosing one candidate each quarter to progress on this fantastic placement programme. The winning applicant each quarter will be placed in an artisan bakery for one week's hands-on baking experience.
Young Baker Programme Extras
In addition to your bakery placement, winners will also receive the following:
A Matthews Cotswold Flour Mill Tour
A FarmED Farm Walk and Regenerative Lunch
Professional Baking Introduction with expert Sophie Carey
A selection of Cotswold Flours to help get you started on your baking journey
Baking Equipment from some of our industry partners, to help you keep up your baking practice!
Exclusive Baking Opportunity
This one week placement will give you exclusive insights into the world of professional baking. Learning from master bakers to develop your skills and baking experience, setting you up to swiftly progress in your baking career.
Baking Insights
You'll learn how professional bakers ensure every bake is the best it can be. From preparing the ingredients, following the method, timing and oven temperature - consistency is key in this fast-paced profession!
Hands-On Experience
This placement will give you real hands-on baking experience. You'll be in a working bakery, mixing it up with the best, and learning by doing every step of the way.
Enter Now To Win Your Place
Applications will be assessed on your passion for baking, so please share what makes you the best fit for a place on this programme. Tell us your best baking story, explain why you want to expand your baking knowledge, and show us your love for the craft!
The next successful Young Baker will be announced in the second week of October 2024 - now taking applications for next round closing 12 January 2025 - terms and conditions apply*
Terms & Conditions
*Applications for this round will close at 11.59pm on Sunday 12 January 2025, with one winner for the quarter being drawn week commencing 13 January 2025. Applications for the next round will open immediately at this point. One entry per person per round. The winner will be notified by phone/email within one week of selection. Entrants must be over the age of 18 at point of draw and under the age of 30 - UK residents only. The Company (FWP Matthews Ltd) is the only sponsor of this competition, though winners details will need to be shared with other third-party partner organisations for the purposes of arranging fulfilment of the winner's prizes. No cash alternative is available, and no purchase is necessary to enter. Prizes are as noted on the Young Baker Programme page and subject to change at the Company's discretion or where alternative arrangements are required. Winners will be required to consent to participation in publicity related activities relating to the fulfilment of prizes, including promotional video/photography, as well as content created for and shared on the Company's website and social media channels. All entrants' details will be handled in line with the Company's GDPR and Privacy Policy obligations (as outlined here: https://cotswoldflour.com/policies/privacy-policy).
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Regenerative Farming
With farming practices developed to promote resiliency in crops and healthier soils. We believe in putting more back than we're taking out of the environment. Working to minimise disturbance to soils while maximising crop diversity, integrating mob grazing and fostering deep root growth to deliver more nutrients to crops.
The Cotswold Grain Partnership
This cooperative has been built between local farming families and businesses. Connected by our shared desire to collaborate directly for the benefit of all. We work to share new ideas, develop new growth opportunities, and promote sustainability in both food sources & farming.
Milling For Over 100 years
Matthews Cotswold Flour is one of the UK’s oldest family-run flour mills. With a milling legacy spanning eight generations, we've been grain trading and milling flour in the heart of the Cotswolds since the 1800s. We are proud to offer premium quality Regenerative flour, Organic and Stoneground Wholegrain, with grain sourced from local farms using traditional milling techniques.
Matthews Cotswolds Flour News
Young Baker Award Winner Announced!
We’ve just announced that Thomas Hall has won the Young Baker Award for November 2024 - huge congratulations to Thomas! Matthews Cotswold Flour launched the Young Baker Programme to encourage more young people to turn their passion for home baking into a successful career in the bakery industry. The Young Baker Award has been developed in response to feedback from our pro-baker customers, indicating an ongoing shortage of good bakery staff joining the sector.
Big Win for Open Bakery!
Open Bakery, a family business that has been trading in Brighton (Kemp Town) since 2011, has just been named the South East Regional Winner in the National Bakery Awards. Already hugely popular with locals, Open Bakery now finds itself celebrated alongside the best bakers in the country!
Elaine's Top Pizza Flour For Sourdough Tips
Tips for using Cotswold Pizza Flour with Elaine Boddy's Sourdough Master Recipe -this flour has been designed to relax so that it is perfect for handling and shaping for making pizza bases, therefore it includes a flour conditioner to assist that.
Young Baker Award Winner Announced!
We’ve just announced that Thomas Hall has won the Young Baker Award for November 2024 - huge congratulations to Thomas! Matthews Cotswold Flour launched the Young Baker Programme to encourage more young people to turn their passion for home baking into a successful career in the bakery industry. The Young Baker Award has been developed in response to feedback from our pro-baker customers, indicating an ongoing shortage of good bakery staff joining the sector.
Big Win for Open Bakery!
Open Bakery, a family business that has been trading in Brighton (Kemp Town) since 2011, has just been named the South East Regional Winner in the National Bakery Awards. Already hugely popular with locals, Open Bakery now finds itself celebrated alongside the best bakers in the country!
Elaine's Top Pizza Flour For Sourdough Tips
Tips for using Cotswold Pizza Flour with Elaine Boddy's Sourdough Master Recipe -this flour has been designed to relax so that it is perfect for handling and shaping for making pizza bases, therefore it includes a flour conditioner to assist that.