For 20-year-old Welsh chef Gabrielle Wilson, 2025 is shaping up to be a year she’ll never forget. 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 on the job.
Gabi’s culinary story began in Llanidloes, where she first stepped into the professional kitchen at Chartists 1770 at The Trewythen, a boutique training restaurant run by Cambrian Training Company. It was there she found her rhythm – and her passion for sustainable cooking. In January 2024, she and fellow apprentice Rosie Koffer made headlines by winning gold in the inaugural Green Chef Challenge at the Welsh International Culinary Championships (WICC). Their three-course vegetarian menu wowed judges and earned Gabi the title of the competition’s first-ever champion.
When Chartists 1770 closed its doors, Gabi moved to Chapters, a Green Michelin star restaurant in Hay-on-Wye, where she now works under head chef Mark McHugo. “It’s going really well and I’m learning a lot,” she says. “We’ve just come through the Hay Festival – it was super-busy, but such a great experience.”
Her level 3 apprenticeship in Professional Cookery, delivered by Cambrian Training, has been a cornerstone of her development. “Working in a professional kitchen is very different to being a college student,” Gabi explains. “The apprenticeship helped me a lot – you learn from skilled professionals every day. It’s a recipe for success.”
That success was celebrated at Cambrian Training’s Apprenticeship Graduation Ceremony at the Royal Welsh Showground, where Gabi stood proudly among more than 100 apprentices from across Wales. “Graduating was a proud moment for me,” she says. “My mum and dad were there, and the Cambrian staff were so supportive.”
This week, at EuroSkills Herning 2025, Gabi has been competing against the best apprentice chefs from across Europe. Gabi has also progressed to study for a City & Guilds Level 3 Patisserie qualification at NPTC Group of Colleges in Newtown – a step toward her dream of specialising in patisserie.
Looking ahead, Gabi hopes to earn a place in Team UK for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 and with the support of Cambrian Training, plans to do secondments at other restaurants to broaden her experience. Her advice to aspiring chefs? “Go for an apprenticeship somewhere with skilled professionals. You’ll learn from the best – and that makes all the difference.”
From a small town in Mid Wales to the international stage, Gabi Wilson is proving that with passion, support and a pinch of courage, anything is possible.
