IPOF holding image

Food bursaries, competitions, awards and more

One of the things that I’m often asked is how I got into food, though perhaps more pressing is the question which follows, “how can I get into food”.

Well there are no straight roads into food – everyone finds a different route and some get lost along the way. But here are a few bursaries, competitions and awards, available to UK entrants, which might help you along your journey.

It’s a working list so please do leave comments about others.

For writers and aspiring writers:

Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards

  • Various categories available
  • For professional and aspiring writers

Guild of Food Writers Awards

  • Various awards available
  • For professional and aspiring writers

Les Dames d’Escoffier International Legacy Awards

  • Food and wine journalism mentorship
  • Up to $2,000 for travel expenses for the mentorship opportunity

M.F.K. Fisher Award

  • Up to $1,000 for culinary writing
  • Women residents of United States, Canada, Mexico or Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland)
  • Entrance fee required

Oxford Symposium

  • Various awards available
  • For professional and aspiring writers
  • See also The Sophie Coe Prize and The Cherwell Studentship

Shepherd Neame 1698 Award for Best Beer and Food Writer

  • Up to £1,000 for writing or broadcasting on matching beer with food and/or cooking with beer
  • Entries can be from national, local or regional media, books, trade publications or online.

Sophie Coe Prize

  •  £1,500 for writing on food history
  • Submissions of up to 10,000 words

Yan-kit So Memorial Award

  • £2,500 for travel and research with a focus on Asian cuisine
  • For UK residents
  • You must not have already published a book

For photographers:

Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year

  • Various categories available
  • Entrance fee required

For chefs:

International Association of Culinary Professionals Awards

  • Various categories available

James Beard Foundation Scholarships

  • Various scholarships available
  • For culinary study in USA

Les Dames d’Escoffier International Legacy Awards

  • Stagiaire experience
  • Up to $2,000 for travel expenses for the mentorship opportunity

For producers:

Great Taste Awards

  • Various categories are available
  • Entrance fee required

Les Dames d’Escoffier International Legacy Awards

  • Food producer mentorship
  • Up to $2,000 for travel expenses for the mentorship opportunity

Young British Foodies

  • Various prizes are available

For young people:

Cherwell Food History Studentship

  • $1,000 for research into food history
  • Must be under 30
  • Must make a presentation at The Oxford Symposium

Graeme Kidd Bursary

  • Up to £1,000 for people aged 16-25, looking to build a career in food or drink
  • For people residing within the Ludlow and the Marches area

Others:

AJ Banks Award

  • Up to around £1,500 for food science, engineering and technology related travel
  • For PhD and postdoctoral researchers
  • Must be a member of SCI
Qin Xie

Qin Xie is a London based food, wine and travel journalist and trained chef.

When not infiltrating Michelin restaurants as a kitchen tourist, she writes about food, drink and travel. Her work has appeared on Yahoo, FT, The Times and CNN.

Her first cookbook, co-authored with YS Peng at Hunan Restaurant, is out March 2014.

According to friends, her watch is always set to UTC -- ready for the next big adventure. In reality, she is happiest at the dinner table or by the sea.

2 Comments

  1. […] A list of bursaries, competitions, awards and more in the world of food  […]

  2. […] Food bursaries, competitions, awards and more […]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.