EVENTS
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The Grampian Dinner

28th October 2010
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The Edinburgh Lunch

5th November 2010
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The London Lunch

25th November 2010
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The Christmas Party

2nd December 2010
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Search for Scottish Hospitality Stars

14th November 2008

The Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland has launched its annual search for the future stars of Scotland’s hospitality industry.

This year, up to 200 Emerging Talent Scholarships are available for Scottish people working in the hospitality industry. The scheme sends scholars around the globe and within the UK on fully funded world-renowned training courses and money-can’t-buy work placements to improve the hospitality trade in Scotland.

Altogether, HIT Scotland believes the Emerging Talent Scholarships represent a million pound investment in the industry. As well as bringing back new skills and best practice to Scotland, the scheme aims to improve staff retention across the industry, raise aspirations and encourage professional development.

Anyone working in the hospitality, tourism, leisure or travel industries can apply. Students in the final year of an industry-focussed course can also enter for a student scholarship.

The competitive scholarship programme looks to reward people who are ready to take the next step in their career and have a commitment to driving standards in Scottish hospitality. The initial application process is managed online. Successful applicants undergo a second stage of telephone or face-to-face interviews.

Previous recipients have taken courses at the Disney Institute in Florida, Ecole du Hotelier in Lausanne, Switzerland, and Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration in New York State.

Examples of work placements range from weeks spent at six star resorts in Dubai or Singapore to the Eden Project in Cornwall. Closer to home young chefs spend time under the tutorage of Willie Pike, Masterchef at the Lochgreen House Hotel in Ayrshire, or in England at a Gordon Ramsay restaurant.

David Cochrane, Chief Executive of HIT Scotland, said:

“Over the last four years, we have awarded over 300 Emerging Talent Scholarships. Scholars come back full of renewed appreciation for Scottish hospitality and their careers. By offering these scholarships, we find people to inspire others in their career as well and help improve the whole industry.”

To apply visit www.hitscotland.org

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For more information on HIT Scotland please contact Joe Walton at Real PR, 0141 572 5373, joe@real-pr.co.uk.

The Six Scholarships Categories

Student Scholarships place young people in Scotland’s finest hotel and restaurants to give them the best possible start to their career. They are available to final year students on hospitality or catering related courses.

Chefs with an ambition to one-day head their own kitchen should apply for a Craft Scholarship where they can experience life in a top kitchen. Last year, many scholars spent one-week resident with Master Chef Willie Pike at Lochgreen House in Troon.

One day most members of staff will be responsible for looking after a team. If that day is approaching soon then a Young Manager scholarship can provide the necessary training and confidence. Successful Scholars can find themselves on courses in Switzerland, training days in the UK or on a weekend tour of Scottish distilleries.

Middle Management Scholarships are for those who already have some management experience. As well as attending senior courses in Lausanne, middle management scholars can find themselves learning at Disneyland in Florida or working in Dubai.

Trialled last year, the Leadership Scholarships took three senior managers to Ivy League University Cornell in the USA to attend their School of Hotel Administration, considered the world’s best by Newsweek. Only General Mangers or above can apply.

The Frank Mullen Scholarship is open to anyone with an idea for a novel scholarship. From working on the French Rivera or to training with emerging technology, if there is a particular part of hospitality that would be interesting to explore then this bespoke scholarship is for you.

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