It's no secret that London's dining scene is currently making history, with new restaurants opening here at a faster rate in the last 12 months than at any time previously recorded. Our city has the some of the world's highest quality restaurants, and our crop of chefs and emerging talent is undoubtedly one of the best around.

Le Cordon Bleu, the elite cookery school that's helped shape the careers of the likes of Michelin-starred Peruvian chef Virgilio Martinez, has committed itself to nurturing this talent through a scholarship.

It'll see the winner offered a place on its prestigious Grand Diplôme, a nine-month of comprehensive classic chef training in both patisserie and cuisine, followed by an internship at Martinez's Fitzrovia restaurant – worth over £35,000. Thanks to Le Cordon Bleu's reputation for excellence, it's essentially a fast-track passport into the upper echelons of the culinary world.

This is the sixth year the award has been running, equipping its winners with the skills and knowledge to flourish in a competitive industry.

Rachel Khoo, Peggy Porschen and John Waite are just a few of Le Cordon Bleu's other notable alumni from throughout its rich, 120-year history, which has helped shape gastronomy around the world.

Applications for the scholarship are open now.

For more information: ukscholarship.cordonbleu.edu