Michelin-starred chef Steve Drake to Lead Culinary Arts Education at the Bournemouth Campus
Bournemouth and Poole College has appointed a Michelin-starred chef - Steve Drake - as its new Master of Culinary Arts Education, joining us from September. A Chez-Roux restaurant scholar, Steve trained alongside leading figures including Marco Pierre White, Marc Veyrat and Tom Aikens, and has held Michelin stars at three restaurants during his distinguished career.
Steve will lead the college’s Specialised Chefs Programme, delivered in partnership with the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts (RACA), providing strategic and academic leadership to one of the UK’s most respected routes into professional cookery. For more than 35 years, the course has developed a series of excellent young chefs through rigorous training and structured industry experience, and continues to be regarded as a benchmark for excellence in culinary education.
Steve’s appointment coincides with the completion of the new Compass Building at the Lansdowne Road Campus, part of a £37m investment in cutting-edge facilities. The development features state-of-the-art, industry-standard kitchens designed to replicate professional environments and give students the best possible preparation for careers in high-end hospitality. The spaces will underpin the programme’s next phase of growth, offering students an enhanced environment in which to develop technical precision, creativity, and confidence under pressure.
He said: “Taking on this role is a genuine privilege. The Specialised Chefs Programme has a fantastic legacy, and my goal is to help students become resilient, creative and ready for modern hospitality. With these innovative kitchens, we have a brilliant space to master the craft.”
Phil Sayles, Principal and Chief Executive, said Steve’s appointment reflects the college’s commitment to excellence: “We want students learning from the very best in the business, and Steve’s track record is outstanding. Combined with our new facilities, there is no better place to begin a culinary career. His leadership will further strengthen the student experience and ensure our training remains industry relevant.”
Bournemouth and Poole College and The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts (RACA) have both emphasised that Steve’s experience as a Michelin-starred chef and former owner-operator will strengthen an already highly regarded programme, ensuring students are fully prepared for the demands of professional, modern kitchens and the emerging expectations within the hospitality industry.
