Newly qualified chef Daniel Baird has been awarded the City & Guilds’ Medal for Excellence. The twenty-year-old chef won one of only four medals awarded in New Zealand from a total of 100 medals available worldwide.
City & Guilds’ Medal for Excellence recognises the achievements of learners, lecturers and trainers who have achieved great results b producing exceptional work. In addition to achieving excellent results, it also recognises people who show a true journey of progression throughout their qualification.
“I was totally surprised,” said Baird. “My tutors nominated me and to receive City & Guilds recognition in this way is so important to my cheffing career.”
Baird, who completed the cookery and patisserie course at Wellington’s WelTec School of Hospitality in 2014, was thrilled to receive such a high accolade and believes that his study, working in hospitality and competing at national and international culinary competitions has given him the skills to excel in the industry. “I have gained a lot of knowledge and experiences that are invaluable.”
According to Glenn Fulcher, City & Guilds regional manager for Pacific-International, Baird is a truly exceptional and talented young chef, and his achievement is also an acknowledgement of the high standard of teaching by WelTec School of Hospitality staff.
Other New Zealand winners were Jessie Osborne student of International Tourism at Waikato Institute of Technology, Joel Miller, who studies Patisserie at Waikato Institute of Technology and Genevieve Lysaght studying Food & Beverage at Western Institute of Technology in Taranaki.
