The Trustees of the Gold Service Scholarship - the hospitality industry’s leading competition and award for talented young front-of-house professionals - have announced details of the 2018 schedule for nominations and the assessment
programme. With Her Majesty The Queen as Patron of the Scholarship, it is now embarking on its 6th year of recognising professionalism and potential in catering, and going from strength to strength.
The nomination process will kick off on 4 September 2017, with the deadline for entries by 29 September. All information about applications, and the Scholarship in general, is available online at www.thegoldservicescholarship.co.uk. Candidates must be between the ages of 20 and 28, and must be in full-time employment in the UK hospitality industry - whether in restaurants, hotels, catering companies, or related establishments.
Edward Griffiths, Chairman of the Judges, explained: “Each year, from an initial pool, well in excess of 100 applicants, we assess each candidate, interviewing all those who reach the Quarter Final, looking for the spark that indicates a passion and a thirst to learn about every possible aspect of the hospitality industry. It’s a rigorous process over
several months, but we nurture, teach and guide at every stage.”
Following the entry process, there will be two Quarter Final sessions to be held on 21 and 23 October 2017, with the Semi Final on 21 November 2017, and the Final and Award Ceremony on dates to be confirmed for the end of January and February 2018 respectively. (More details to follow.)
Over the past five years, the Gold Service Scholarship has awarded five very talented Scholars, all of whom have matured in their careers with the guidance and mentoring from the Trustees and Ambassadors.
The recent 2017 Scholar - Stephanie Beresforde - has just begun a new role as Restaurant Manager at the newly launched Jean-Georges at The Connaught in London, and the 2016 Scholar - Jennifer Santner - has recently joined the Michelin two-starred Lecture Room & Library at Sketch. Both are confident, talented young professionals who
cite their experiences with the Gold Service Scholarship as vital education and inspiration for their ongoing career growth.
The winning Scholar, to be announced in February 2018, will benefit from a host of tailor-made prizes and opportunities to broaden their knowledge of food, wine and service. These will include a trip to Champagne Laurent-Perrier in France, the option of work placements in both the UK and abroad, including a three-day stage during a State
Visit at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle, a Berry Bros & Rudd wine lecture and dinner, plus PR, marketing and social media tutoring, and numerous other vital opportunities appropriate to the celebration of their win and the progress of their career.
