The Scholarship is seeking to recognise and celebrate the achievements of young professionals working in restaurant service in the hospitality industry.

The 2015 scholarship competition is inviting 22-30 year olds working in the UK in any aspect of restaurant service, including hotels, high-street restaurants, fine-dining, contract catering, licensed hospitality and clubs, to nominate themselves by visiting www.thegoldservicescholarship.co.uk by 10th October 2014.

The competition is made up of three parts; an initial online test comprising multiple-choice questions and simple photo analysis; regional heats on 18 and 19 November where shortlisted competitors will be asked to perform basic service tasks and a question and answer session with the judges; a one-day master class for finalists and the National Final at The Connaught, Mayfair on 2 February 2015, where contestants will demonstrate their skills to the judges and invited guests at a special lunch. The winner will be announced at a high-profile awards ceremony on 9 February 2014 at Claridge’s.   

Industry personalities and connoisseurs, including Silvano Giraldin, director at Roux Restaurants, Fred Sirieix, general manager of Galvin at Windows, Edward Griffiths, deputy master of the Household at Buckingham Palace and Alastair Storey, are all backing the Scholarship in a bid to inspire more young people to take up a professional career in front of hospitality.

The winner of the competition will be given the opportunity to work side-by-side with a number of the star supporters, as well as take part in culinary events, tour French vineyards and serve in some of the world’s best restaurants over the course of a year.

Alastair Storey, chairman of lead sponsor BaxterStorey, said: “The Gold Service Scholarship is all about inspiring the next generation of hospitality talent. The industry we work within can be hugely rewarding and provide fantastic career opportunities – something which can be even greater heightened with an accolade like the Scholarship. I’d encourage anyone in restaurant service to enter, from waiters and waitresses at high-street chains to front of house maître d’s in fine dining establishments, and so they can reap the rewards of this fantastic competition.”

James Fleming added: “It’s an honour and a privilege to have been the Scholar for 2014 and to follow in the footsteps of the first winner Rebecca Dibben. It has been great to embark on the many fantastic placements afforded by the Scholarship and to work alongside industry greats, who I never thought I would meet, let alone work with! I hope that the Scholarship inspires others to pursue a career in such a dynamic and rewarding industry.”