A unique scholarship has been launched to encourage young people to make a professional career in front of house hospitality. The Gold Service Scholarship is sponsored by BaxterStorey – the UK’s largest independent food service provider – and has been designed to help develop the skills of aspiring individuals in the restaurant service industry.
The competition to become the first scholar is now open for anybody between the ages of 22 and 30 working in the UK in any aspect of restaurant service: this includes hotels, restaurants, contract catering, licensed hospitality and clubs.
Welcome initiative
H & C News is delighted to welcome and support this initiative. We have long believed that ‘service’ needs and deserves a higher profile and recognition than it usually receives. Both research and customer feedback are making it more and more evident that front of house service is critical to the ‘guest experience’ that creates loyal customers.
The Gold Service Scholarship, and the support it has already attracted – just take a look at the full list of mentors on the website – will bring attention and focus, and even help to identify the current and future ‘stars’ that contribute so much to making the guest experience memorable.
Employers should take a look now, and encourage their staff to look and enter.
Elite group of mentors
The first of its kind in the industry, The Gold Service Scholarship will see competitors receive support along the way from an elite group of mentors to help them enhance their skills into the ‘stand out’ service professionals of the future. The winner of the scholarship will receive a year’s worth of mentoring, educational training, travel and work experience delivered by the best in the business. Runners-up will also receive personal mentoring sessions and a one-day master class.
The dedicated group of professionals involved include Silvano Giraldin, Director of Roux Restaurants; Edward Griffiths, Deputy Master of the Household at Buckingham Palace; John Davey, Founder of the John Davey Consultancy and Willy Bauer OBE, Chairman of AB hotels, among others.
Aspiring to a job in hospitality
Alastair Storey, Chairman of BaxterStorey, said:
“It’s important that young people in Britain should aspire to a job in hospitality, which in most other countries is seen as a really important career. My dream for the scholarship is that it is inclusive and it’s great to have so many mentors involved who are committed to encouraging aspiring young people to join the industry. Through entering the scholarship we can help them realise how much fun there is to be had and how much professionalism there is in this sector.”
The competition
The competition is made up of four parts. The first is an online test comprising multiple-choice questions and simple photo analysis, and the second involves candidates meeting the judges, performing some basic service tasks, and answering more questions to assess their approach and potential.
Finalists will then receive a one-day master class, with personal mentoring to develop their skills to a higher level. The final will take place in February where contestants will show off their service skills to judges and invited guests at a special lunch, with the winner announced at a high profile awards ceremony the same evening.
Online applications
Competitors have until midnight on Monday 19th November to apply online. For full details on how to enter as well as how to get involved as an employer or sponsor, click here.
About BaxterStorey
BaxterStorey is the UK’s leading independent food service provider for business and industry. The key to the company’s success is its passion for fantastic food made from the freshest, locally sourced ingredients, absolute client focus, the quality of the people it employs, focus on coaching and development and its commitment to sustainable operation.
For more information click here