Student Secures Second Place in Culinary Final

City of Glasgow College student Lily Anderson has secured second place in the final of the Combi Guru Chef Challenge, held at UNOX headquarters in Padova, Italy.

Lily, a Level 5 Professional Cookery student, progressed through the competition heats earlier this year to earn her place in the final, which took place from 23–26 April 2026. Competing against finalists from colleges across the UK and Ireland, she delivered an impressive performance to claim second place in the prestigious culinary competition.

Organised in partnership with UNOX, the Combi Guru Chef Challenge tests competitors on technical skill, creativity and culinary knowledge using professional combi oven technology. Lily also performed strongly in the competition’s app challenge, demonstrating both practical ability and strong technical understanding.

The trip marked a major milestone for Lily. It was her first time travelling abroad, her first flight, and her first experience of international travel. Travelling to Padova with lecturer Artur Kurlowicz gave her the opportunity to compete in the final, build confidence and gain valuable new experience.

Artur played a key role in supporting Lily throughout the competition. He organised the class’s involvement in the app challenge, liaised with organisers, supported Lily’s training, and accompanied her to Italy for the final.

The trip was fully funded by UNOX, the competition sponsor, enabling both Lily and Artur to attend the final.

Lily said: “It was a great experience to compete in Venice and represent the College. I’m really pleased to have achieved second place and grateful for all the support I received from Artur and the College.”

Artur Kurlowicz said: “Lily worked hard throughout and represented the College extremely well. To reach the final and achieve second place is an excellent result, and it was great to see her gain so much from the experience both professionally and personally.”

Lily’s success reflects the high standard of talent within Professional Cookery at City of Glasgow College and the value of giving students opportunities to develop their skills through real industry experience.