Pastry chef and Bake-Off Crème de la Crème judge Claire Clark is to open a new academy for pastry chefs in partnership with Milton Keynes College.

The Claire Clark Academy will be operated from the college’s Bletchley campus and will benefit from its kitchen facilities and tutors.

Clark, who has worked for a number of leading restaurants, hotels and event caterers in England, announced the move at the college’s Stars of the Future showcase in June. She was also awarded Restaurant Magazine’s Best Pastry Chef title in 1999 and 2005 and received an MBE in 2011.

Clark told the local Advertiser & Review:  “I’m delighted to be working with Milton Keynes College’s catering department to bring the first Patisserie Academy of its kind to students and professionals. This is a time when we need to be encouraging them to study and further their careers to meet demand for the diminishing supply of trained, skilled pastry chefs in the industry.

“There will also be courses for the enthusiastic home baker to hone their skills and master that tricky technique.”