CHEF Jonny Streets was named Scotland’s Adult Apprentice of the Year at Glasgow Science Centre on Wednesday.
His sponsor Sarah Dalrymple said: “The doors are going to open for him now. It’s a real rags to riches story.”
Jobless and with no qualifications, Jonny responded to an advert in The Southern Reporter for a dishwasher at Selkirk’s County Hotel, where co-owners Trond Dalby and Will Haegeland trained him as an apprentice cook.
“We’re very happy and proud of him,” Trond said: “He’s demonstrated he can get wherever he wants.” Last year, Jonny also won the Scottish Borders Junior Chef Challenge.