Role model Welsh apprentice Gabi to cook against Europe’s best in Denmark

A 20-year-old Mid Wales chef, who this week aims to outcook rivals from across Europe, has been described as a role model for Welsh apprentices.

Gabi Wilson, from Rhayader, will represent Team UK in the cooking competition at EuroSkills Herning in Denmark from tomorrow (Wednesday) until Friday in the latest chapter of a remarkable culinary learning journey.

She is one of seven Welsh competitors out of a team of 19 representing Team UK in 17 different skills at the European competition, which has attracted 600 competitors.

The talented young chef, who works at Chapters, a Green Michelin star restaurant in Hay-on-Wye, was selected for Team UK following her success in national skills competitions.

A former Cambrian Training Company apprentice, who graduated with an Apprenticeship in Professional Cookery earlier this summer, Gabi looks destined for the very top of her profession.

Lisa Mytton, strategic director of the National Training Federation for Wales, of which Cambrian Training Company is a member, says apprenticeship providers in Wales will be right behind Gabi.

“From graduating with an Apprenticeship in Professional Cookery to being selected to represent Team UK at EuroSkills Herning 2025, Gabi’s journey is a testament to talent, tenacity and the power of learning in the workplace,” she added. “She’s a role model for other Welsh apprentices.

“We wish her every success and hope her culinary skills shine for the rest of Europe to see. Hopefully, Gabi will inspire more Welsh apprentices, employers and training providers to recognise the value and benefits of national, European and world skills competitions.”

Keen to keep learning her craft, Gabi has completed a City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Patisserie and Confectionery at NPTC Group of Colleges in Newtown, which has played a key role in her culinary journey. It was the college that first introduced her to WorldSkills UK competitions.

“I love being in a competition atmosphere,” she said. “It really motivates me and I’m excited to see where I stand among my European peers. Being selected to compete at EuroSkills is an amazing opportunity and one that might only come around once.”

Following her trip to Herning, she wants to secure a place in Team UK for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.

Gabi already has a national title on her CV –  she was the first winner of the Green Chef Challenge at the Welsh International Culinary Championships in 2024 whilst working with and learning from vastly experienced chefs at Chartists 1770 at The Trewythen, Llanidloes.

When that restaurant closed, she secured a job at Chapters where she is being mentored by head chef Mark McHugo, who co-owns the restaurant with his wife, Charmaine.

They have ensured that Gabi has been able to attend training and bootcamps in preparation for EuroSkills. One-to-one training support from professional chefs including Andrew Addis-Fuller, a hospitality training officer with Cambrian Training Company, has also helped to hone her culinary skills.

She credits her “amazing” apprenticeships with helping to build her confidence and skills. “It’s a great way to develop your skills in a live environment,” she said.

“My advice to anyone wishing to become a chef is to opt for an apprenticeship at a place where there are skilled professionals because you will always learn from the best. It’s a recipe for success.

“I want to learn a wide range of skills before possibly specialising in patisserie. In the future, I would also like to travel and do stages at different restaurants to learn from other chefs.”

Paul Evans, Inspiring Skills Excellence in Wales project director, said it’s a “brilliant” achievement for Gabi and the six other Welsh members to be selected for Team UK for EuroSkills, the skills Olympics for Europe.

“Team UK is using EuroSkills as a development platform for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026,” he stressed. “This is part of the development programme for Gabi and the other team members and it will test their mental toughness and resilience under competition pressure over three days.

“She will have set challenges and it’s high pressure in the cooking competition because she has to deliver service on time.

“The age restriction for EuroSkills is 25, whereas it’s 22 for WorldSkills, which means that the competitors Gabi will be facing will probably have represented their countries on the world stage before.

“Hopefully, she is on the road to Shanghai but she is not guaranteed to go, as she will face competition from other chefs for a place in Team UK. By competing at EuroSkills, I hope she inspires more young people in Wales to consider cooking as a career pathway.

“This is the Skills Olympics for Europe and an opportunity for the Welsh members of Team UK to benchmark the quality of education within our country.”

Picture caption: Gabi Wilson receiving the Green Chef Challenge award from Culinary Association of Wales president Arwyn Watkins, OBE, last year. Gabi Wilson receives her apprenticeship scroll from Cambrian Training Company’s managing director Faith O’Brien at the graduation ceremony.

For more information, please contact Karen Smith, NTFW Communications and Marketing Manager, at karen.smith@ntfw.org or Tel: 07425 621 709 or Duncan Foulkes, public relations consultant, on Tel: 01686 650818 or 07779 7854

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Gabi, prentis o Gymru sy’n esiampl i eraill, yn cystadlu â chogyddion dawnus Ewrop yn Nenmarc

Cafodd cogydd 20 oed o’r Canolbarth, sy’n awyddus i ragori ar gogyddion o bob cwr o Ewrop yr wythnos hon, ei disgrifio fel esiampl i brentisiaid eraill o Gymru.

Bydd Gabi Wilson, o Raeadr Gwy, yn cynrychioli Tîm y DU yng ngornest goginio EuroSkills Herning yn Nenmarc yn y bennod ddiweddaraf o’i thaith nodedig yn dysgu coginio.

Mae Gabi’n un o saith cystadleuydd o Gymru mewn tîm o 19 sy’n cynrychioli Tîm y DU mewn 17 o wahanol sgiliau yn y gystadleuaeth Ewropeaidd, sydd wedi denu 600 o gystadleuwyr.

Dewiswyd y cogydd ifanc dawnus, sy’n gweithio yn Chapters, bwyty â Seren Werdd Michelin yn y Gelli Gandryll, yn aelod o Dîm y DU yn dilyn ei llwyddiant mewn cystadlaethau sgiliau cenedlaethol.

A hithau’n gyn-brentis gyda Chwmni Hyfforddiant Cambrian, graddiodd Gabi â Phrentisiaeth mewn Coginio Proffesiynol yn gynharach yn yr haf ac, yn ôl pob argoel, bydd yn cyrraedd brig ei phroffesiwn.

Mae Cwmni Hyfforddiant Cambrian yn aelod o Ffederasiwn Hyfforddiant Cenedlaethol Cymru (NTFW) a dywed Lisa Mytton, cyfarwyddwr strategol y Ffederasiwn, y bydd darparwyr prentisiaethau yng Nghymru yn cefnogi Gabi bob cam o’r ffordd.

“O raddio â Phrentisiaeth mewn Coginio Proffesiynol i gael ei dewis i gynrychioli Tîm y DU yn EuroSkills Herning 2025, mae taith Gabi yn arwydd o’i dawn, ei dygnwch a gwerth dysgu yn y gweithle,” meddai.  “Mae hi’n esiampl i brentisiaid eraill Cymru.

“Dymunwn bob llwyddiant iddi a gobeithio y bydd ei sgiliau coginio’n disgleirio fel y gall gweddill Ewrop eu gweld.  Gobeithio y bydd Gabi’n ysbrydoli rhagor o brentisiaid, cyflogwyr a darparwyr hyfforddiant yng Nghymru i gydnabod gwerth a manteision cystadlaethau sgiliau cenedlaethol, Ewropeaidd a byd-eang.”

Mae Gabi’n awyddus i barhau i ddysgu ei chrefft, ac mae wedi cwblhau Diploma Lefel 3 City & Guilds mewn Sgiliau Patisserie a Melysion yng Ngrŵp Colegau NPTC yn y Drenewydd, sydd wedi chwarae rhan allweddol yn ei thaith fel cogydd. Dyma’r coleg a’i cyflwynodd gyntaf i gystadlaethau WorldSkills UK.

“Rwy wrth fy modd ag awyrgylch cystadlaethau,” meddai.  “Mae wir yn rhoi hwb i mi ac rwy’n edrych ymlaen at weld ble rwy’n sefyll ymhlith y cystadleuwyr eraill o Ewrop.  Mae cael fy newis i gystadlu yn EuroSkills yn gyfle gwych – cyfle unwaith mewn oes efallai.”

Ar ôl ei thaith i Herning, hoffai sicrhau lle yn Nhîm y DU ar gyfer WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.

Mae Gabi eisoes wedi ennill gornest genedlaethol – hi oedd enillydd cyntaf Her y Cogyddion Gwyrdd ym Mhencampwriaethau Coginio Rhyngwladol Cymru yn 2024 tra oedd yn gweithio gyda chogyddion eithriadol o brofiadol yn Chartists 1770 yng ngwesty Trewythen, Llanidloes, ac yn dysgu ganddynt.

Pan gaewyd y bwyty hwnnw, cafodd swydd yn Chapters lle caiff ei mentora gan y prif gogydd Mark McHugo, sy’n gyd-berchennog y bwyty gyda’i wraig, Charmaine.

Maen nhw wedi sicrhau bod Gabi’n cael mynychu hyfforddiant a gwersylloedd hyfforddi i baratoi ar gyfer EuroSkills. Bu cefnogaeth hyfforddiant un-i-un gan gogyddion proffesiynol fel Andrew Addis-Fuller, swyddog hyfforddi lletygarwch gyda Chwmni Hyfforddiant Cambrian, yn help iddi fireinio’i sgiliau coginio hefyd.

Mae’n rhoi clod i’w phrentisiaethau “anhygoel” am helpu i feithrin ei hyder a’i sgiliau.  “Mae’n ffordd wych o ddatblygu’ch sgiliau ym myd gwaith go iawn,” meddai.

“Fy nghyngor i os hoffai rhywun fod yn gogydd yw dewis prentisiaeth mewn man lle mae gweithwyr proffesiynol medrus oherwydd byddwch chi’n siŵr o ddysgu gan y goreuon.  Mae’n llwybr at lwyddiant.

“Dw i’n gobeithio dysgu pob math o sgiliau cyn arbenigo mewn patisserie o bosibl.  Yn y dyfodol, hoffwn i deithio hefyd a threulio cyfnodau mewn gwahanol fwytai i ddysgu gan gogyddion eraill. ”

Dywedodd Paul Evans, cyfarwyddwr prosiect Ysbrydoli Rhagoriaeth Sgiliau yng Nghymru, fod Gabi a’r chwe aelod arall o Gymru wedi gwneud yn “rhagorol” i gael eu dewis yn aelodau o Dîm y DU ar gyfer EuroSkills, prif gystadleuaeth sgiliau Ewrop.

“Mae Tîm y DU yn defnyddio EuroSkills fel cyfle i baratoi at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026,” pwysleisiodd.  “Mae’n rhan o raglen ddatblygu Gabi ac aelodau eraill y tîm a bydd yn profi eu cadernid meddyliol a’u gwytnwch o dan bwysau cystadleuaeth dridiau.

“Bydd hi’n wynebu heriau a osodwyd a bydd o dan bwysau mawr yn y gystadleuaeth goginio i gyflawni’r dasg o fewn amser cyfyngedig.

“Mae WorldSkills ar gyfer pobl o dan 22 ond mae’r terfyn oedran yn 25 ar gyfer EuroSkills, sy’n golygu ei bod yn debygol y bydd rhai o’r cystadleuwyr eraill wedi cynrychioli eu gwledydd ar lwyfan y byd o’r blaen.

“Gobeithio bod Gabi ar y ffordd i Shanghai ond does dim sicrwydd y bydd hi’n mynd, gan y bydd hi’n cystadlu â chogyddion eraill am le yn Nhîm y DU.  Trwy gystadlu yn EuroSkills, rwy’n gobeithio y bydd hi’n ysbrydoli rhagor o bobl ifanc Cymru i ystyried coginio fel llwybr gyrfa.

“Mae hyn fel Gemau Olympaidd Ewrop ym maes sgiliau ac yn gyfle i aelodau Cymru o Dîm y DU ddangos ansawdd addysg yn ein gwlad.”

Capsiynau lluniau: Gabi Wilson yn derbyn gwobr Her y Cogydd Gwyrdd gan lywydd Cymdeithas Goginio Cymru Arwyn Watkins, OBE, llynedd. Gabi Wilson yn derbyn ei sgrôl prentisiaeth gan reolwr-gyfarwyddwr Cwmni Hyfforddiant Cambrian, Faith O’Brien, yn y seremoni raddio.

Os hoffech ragor o wybodaeth, cysylltwch â Karen Smith, Rheolwr Cyfathrebu a Marchnata NTFW, yn karen.smith@ntfw.org neu ar 07425 621709, neu Duncan Foulkes, ymgynghorydd cysylltiadau cyhoeddus, ar 01686 650818 neu 07779 785451.