A 16-year-old student from Bristol, Jade Peters, has received a national award at the prestigious Lion Awards ceremony in London in recognition of her exceptional work in the field of catering.

The annual Lion Awards are the culmination of the City & Guilds Medals for Excellence programme, which sees the organisation donate prizes to individuals who train and work in the field of catering and hospitality.

Jade (pictured right) was presented with The Savoy Educational Trust Prize at this year’s event, which was held recently in London. The trust offers prizes each year to Medals for Excellence winners who are at various stages of their careers in the catering and hospitality sector.

Jade, a student at City of Bristol College, was initially one of 71 talented people to be awarded the 2010 City & Guilds Highly Commended Certificate for her outstanding performance on the VRQ Chef Diploma Level 2 course. Jade was then nominated to receive The Savoy Educational Trust Prize at the national Lion Awards in London.

City & Guilds, the UK’s leading awarding body for work-related qualifications, has been recognising for over 125 years exceptional students or educational professionals, whose portfolio and achievements put them a cut above the rest.

According to the City & Guilds judging panel: “Jade has shown dedication in her coursework and has achieved great results. She is a deserving recipient of the award and we are pleased to have this opportunity to acknowledge her success.”

A thrilled Jade said: “Winning this award has made me really proud of my achievements so far. I am really pleased with my overall progress since I joined College.”

She continues: “I had a very personal tragedy when I was 14, which left me devastated and unable to continue at studying at school. Choosing this course was easy for me as I have a passion to cook to a professional level. I intend to use the skills I have already learnt and the skills which I’m still gaining to become a chef in a Michelin star kitchen or restaurant.”

Nick Webb, Catering Lecturer at City of Bristol College, said: “Jade has earned this mark of special distinction. She is a real inspiration to others and demonstrates that getting the right skills can be the passport to success and fulfilling her true potential. It also shows her aspirations to become a female chef with a Michelin star of her own, which I am sure will happen.”