Flourish is growing – and you might recognise our new colleague from The Great British Bakeoff!

Head Chef Dean Hoddle-Smith joins Flourish, a subsidiary of Blue Strawberry Group, with over a decade of experience as an Executive Chef. He was a former contestant on The Great British Bakeoff, one of the UK’s most famous competitive baking shows, while working as Executive Chef at Silverstone, home of British Motor Racing. Dean led on-site catering for races such as the British Grand Prix and previously worked as a freelance chef catering at some of the country’s most prestigious events and venues.

Dean champions local produce and works with independent suppliers to make creative and sustainable dishes wherever possible. His holistic approach to gastronomy aligns with our values as a wider business – to be innovative in our menu development, conscientious with our ingredient choices and leaders in catering.

Dean is also passionate about providing educational opportunities for future chefs. He previously partnered with Milton Keynes College offering young chefs the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through work placements. He seeks to educate his local community on the importance of nutritional food, a focal point for Flourish.

Flourish provides comprehensive and bespoke workplace hospitality to various tech and financial businesses across London. Chefs place a strong emphasis on creating daily menus that are healthy and delicious, keeping employees energised and productive during the workday. Dean’s expertise and local knowledge will benefit the wider business, and we are excited to work with him in our next growth stage.

Welcome, Dean!