Be Inclusive Hospitality (BIH) has announced the shortlist for its fourth annual Spotlight Awards, with Cumbrian chef and co-owner of the Black Bull, Sedbergh, Nina Matsunaga, named as a finalist in the Chef of the Year category.

The BIH Spotlight Awards shine a light on exceptional talent from Black, Asian, and ethnic minority backgrounds across the UK hospitality, food, and drink sectors. Now in its fourth year, the awards continue to champion diversity, creativity, and excellence in an industry that thrives on cultural influences.

This year saw a record 300 nominations across 15 award categories, including Rising Star, Wine Professional of the Year, Head Office Impact, Bar Pub of the Year, and Brand of the Year. Finalists were carefully selected by an esteemed panel of 24 judges, representing a cross-section of the industry. The judging panel included Sandrae Lawrence, Founding Editor of Cocktail Lovers; Mecca Ibrahim, Co-founder of Women in the Food Industry; Katie Lin, Hospitality Consultant & Investor; Junior Lewis, Global Hospitality Client Consultant Lead at Caterer.com; and Jenny Lau, Founder of Celestial Peach.

The winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on 13 October at Quaglino’s, London, where 300 guests from across the industry will gather to celebrate the brightest and most inspiring talent shaping the future of hospitality.

Speaking on her nomination, Nina said: “I’m over the moon to be shortlisted for Chef of the Year at the fourth Be Inclusive Hospitality Spotlight Awards. As a chef, passion drives everything you do, and awards like this provide an important opportunity to learn, evolve, and benchmark yourself against your peers.

It’s really important that people from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to play a bigger role in the UK hospitality industry. With their cultural insights and experiences, they can make a hugely positive contribution to the continued evolution of British cuisine. Our food scene is truly world-class, and there’s no doubt that it has been shaped over the last 30 years by the incredible diversity found across the UK. I hope it continues to flourish and inspire future generations to become involved in what is a truly vibrant and continuously evolving industry.”