Front-of-house staff encouraged to enter Gold Service Scholarship 2017

The competition, designed to reward excellence in service, is open to anyone working front-of-house in restaurants, bars, hotels, event catering, food service management or anywhere in the industry that is service-facing. 

"At least one in 10 jobs in the UK is related to the hospitality industry,” said Gold Service Scholarship chairman Alastair Storey, “It is therefore vital that we nurture young talent to be future leaders and to recognise early in their careers the spark of personality, aptitude and ambition to succeed in this dynamic business.”

To enter, candidates must be nominated via the website www.thegoldservicescholarship.co.uk​ before 7 October 2016. 

A shortlist of finalists will be selected and will be expected to take part in quarter-finals at the Café Royal, London, on 7 November 2016, followed by the semi-finals at Rosewood London on 28 November 2016.

Finalists will be judged on 6 February 2017 at The Connaught, London with an awards ceremony at Claridge’s on 28 February 2017.

The competition's winner is given support and mentorship from the Scholarship and become ambassadors for the industry themselves. 

Jennifer Santner of Fenchurch Resturant at Sky Garden, who won the 2016 competition earlier this year said: “To be honest, the Gold Service Scholarship has already opened so many doors for me. This whole experience has helped, and is helping, me to understand the hospitality industry on another level. I’ve had access to some of the legends of the industry, and been able to learn from them.”

Founded by Willy Bauer, the Gold Service Scholarship is now in its fifth year.