Hand and Flowers and Lancaster London chefs make Hospitality Guild's Apprenticeship Awards 2013 shortlist

The awards, now in their second year and organised in partnership with People 1st, are designed to recognise and celebrate the achievements of apprentices in the hospitality industry as well as emphasise the 'vital role' played by employers, training providers and mentors. 

This year's winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Tower of London on 3 December where the latest round of inspiring young professionals from the industry will be inducted into the Hospitality Guild's Young Hall of Fame. 

Sophie Roberts Brown, operations director of the Hospitality Guild, said that there was stiff competition for the awards, with more than 100 nominations received in total.

“The nominations we received this year highlighted the impressive skills apprentices in our industry have, and the way in which their employers, mentors and training providers support them. The quality is just amazing," she said. 

“With so many inspiring examples of outstanding talent and support, we’re going to face a number of tough decisions when it comes to choosing our winners to be announced in December.”

The shortlisted nominees for the Hospitality Guild Apprenticeship Awards are:     

Intermediate Apprentice of the Year​

• Conan Brooks, Charnwood Training Group, Intermediate Level Apprenticeship in Professional Cookery
• Daniela Ianneli, The Waldorf Hilton, Intermediate Level Apprenticeship in Food and Beverage
• Jodie Britton, Bristol Marriott Royal, Intermediate Level Apprenticeship in Professional Cookery 

Advanced Apprentice of the Year​

• Amy Duthie, Compass Group UK & Ireland Ltd, Advanced Level Apprenticeship in Professional Cookery
• Ronald Dzepasi, Lancaster London, Advanced Level Apprenticeship in Professional Cookery
• Connor Black, The Hand & Flowers, Advanced Level Apprenticeship in Professional Cookery ​

Apprenticeship Mentor of the Year​

• Allister Bishop, executive sous chef, Harrods
• Brian Lane, chef trainer, Barchester Healthcare
• Linda Hall, food and beverage supervisor, Hilton Warwick 

Employer of the Year: Large (more than 250 employees)​

• Lancaster London
• Hilton Worldwide
• The Orchid Group 

Employer of the Year: SME (less than 250 employees)​

• The Bonnington (Cavendish Hotel) Ltd
• Moleface Pub Group

 Partnership of the Year​

• Hilton Worldwide and Lifetime Training
• Royal Academy of Culinary Arts and Bournemouth & Poole College
• Spirit Pub Company and Charnwood Training

The winners of the Intermediate and Advanced Apprenticeship categories and the Mentor of the Year will each receive a mini-iPad and will be offered the opportunity to undertake a specially tailored week of professional development work experience at either Cyrus Todiwala's Café Spice Namaste, The Ritz London and the Roof Gardens. Clare Smyth of Restaurant Gordon Ramsay will offer a day’s coaching to the winner of the Mentor of the Year category.