The Gold Service Scholarship has announced the 25 finalists in the running to be crowned the first Gold Scholar. Sponsored by BaxterStorey, the scholarship is a bold, new initiative designed to inspire a new generation of young people to start a professional career in front of house hospitality. The winner will receive a year’s worth of exclusive mentoring from the best in the business, including Silvano Giraldin the Director of Roux Restaurants.
The finals will be split into two locations, the first taking place at the University College of Birmingham on 11 January, followed by the University of West London on 15 January. The 25 hopefuls will take part in an interview style meeting and will undertake a series of individual tasks to test their knowledge and skills across different aspects of food and beverage service.
The Gold Service Scholarship saw over 100 high level entries and applicants were judged on their individual potential, skill, drive and determination to develop in the hospitality business.
Out of the 25 finalists moving to the next heat, 15 are from establishments outside of London, three are from gastro-pubs, three are sommelier/bartenders, and two are from University catering.
Silvano Giraldin added:
“I want to thank all of the managers and supervisors who have supported this initiative, from up and down the country. They have sent us some wonderful candidates, we had really tough decisions to make on who to put through and I’m looking forward to meeting them in person in our search for a winner.”
The regional finalists outside London are:
Marco Adreani – The Pass Restaurant, South Lodge Hotel – Chef De Rang
Matthew Balman – Lower Slaughter Manor– Restaurant Manager
Jenna Beech – University of Birmingham – Assistant Manager
Emma Bell – Keele University – Catering Supervisor
Niall Burns – Hastings Hotels, Trainee Manager
Robert Clark – The Doric – Assistant Manager
Frances Grace Croly – The Sportsman – Trainee Assistant Manager
Rebecca Dibben – Gleneagles Hotel, Restaurant Supervisor
Stuart Dolby – Ockenden Manor Hotel – Assistant Restaurant Manager
James Fleming – Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons – Chef De Rang
Wojciech Pastor – The Gleneagles Hotel – Head Waiter
Ben Robinson – Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons – Sommelier De Rang
Pawel Skrzpinski – Hogarth’s Hotel, Dorridge – Fine Dining Assistant Manager
Amelia Thornhill – The Bell at Fetcham – Restaurant Manager
Sam Ward – L’Enclume – Restaurant Manager
The regional finalists in London are:
Romain Crozat – Galvin at Windows – Sommelier
Daniel Crump – Restaurant Gordon Ramsay – Chef De Rang
Ivo De Beus – Claridge’s Hotel – Bartender
Hayri Dogan – The Rib Room – Senior Waiter
Steven Driscoll – The Berkeley – Graduate Trainee Food and Beverage
Devid Isabella – The Ritz – Assistant Restaurant Manager
Jonathan Kent – The Savoy Hotel – Back of House Supervisor
Stuart McIvor – Galvin at Windows – Head Waiter
Stephanie Srey – Galvin at Windows – Chef De Rang
Katharina Stritzelberger – Galvin at Windows – Head Waiter
About the Gold Service Scholarship
The Gold Service Scholarship has a clear vision: to inspire a new generation of front of house hospitality ‘superstars’. Launched in 2012, its centre-piece is an annual prize of mentoring given to the most promising young Front of House professionals in the UK.
The competition is aimed at anybody working in the UK in any aspect of restaurant service, including hotels, restaurants, contract catering, licensed hospitality and clubs, who is between the ages of 22-30 years old.