Finalists go head-to-head in The Gold Service Scholarship 2015

Eight entrants to the Gold Service Scholarship 2015 will have their knowledge, experience and service skills put to the test when they compete in the National Final at The Connaught, Mayfair, on February 2. 

Now in its third year the competition, sponsored by BaxterStorey, is designed to celebrate the importance of great service and inspire a new generation of young people to make a professional career out of front of house hospitality.

Alastair Storey, Chairman of BaxterStorey and one of the judges for this year’s final, said: “This scholarship is all about celebrating young people striving to achieve the highest standards of service within the hospitality sector and seeing our regional finalists showcasing their skills reinforced my pride in our industry.  The passion, enthusiasm and commitment they all showed to their vocations should act as an inspiration to other young people looking to make a career for themselves and I wish all our regional finalists the very best luck for the National Final.”

The finalists, who were whittled down from 28, reflect a broad cross section of hotels, restaurants, contract caterers and in-house catering establishments from various parts of the country.

They are James O’Keeffe - Lainston House Hotel, Winchester; Lukáš Andr - The Seafood Restaurant, Padstow; Karen Weisheit - Cliveden House Hotel, Taplow; Matthew Balman - Buckingham Palace, London; Ronald Rosario - The Capital Hotel, London; Nicholas Winfield - Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons, Oxford; George Oates - Buckingham Palace, London and Daniele Quattromini - Club Lounge 39, Canary Wharf, London.

The finalists will be expected to demonstrate their skills in mise en place, decanting, greeting guests, meal service, wine and beverage service and customer engagement.  They will have to pit their skills at a lunch for respected guests and judges including Edward Griffiths CVO, Deputy Master of the Household at Buckingham Palace and Silvano Giraldin, Director at Roux Restaurants.

Edward Griffiths CVO, Deputy Master of the Household, Buckingham Palace and Chair of the judges said: "We are delighted to announce the finalists for the Gold Service Scholarship, following two days of Regional Finals held at the University of West London.  The quality of entrants this year has been exceptionally high, from a good cross-section of the hospitality industry.  With the help of so many dedicated professionals who have given up their time to judge the skills of the 29 Regional Finalists, we are delighted with the result to take forward eight candidates to the Finals and I congratulate them on their achievement".

The winner of the prestigious competition will receive a year of expert mentoring including the rare opportunity to work side-by-side with industry greats.  They will also have the chance to take part in high profile culinary events, tour French vineyards and serve in some of the world’s best restaurants over the course of a year.

*The winner of the Gold Service Scholarship will be announced at a ceremony at Claridge’s on February 9, 2015.