After completing a three-year apprenticeship at the Ritz, Hansom went on to become the first female to win the Young National Chef of the Year in 2017 and more recently she reached the final of the 2020 Great British Menu. Since joining The Princess of Shoreditch as head chef in 2021, she has achieved 3 AA rosette status, making it the only pub in London to hold the award.

Hansom commented: “I’m really excited to be working with BaxterStorey and its female chefs. Hospitality is a fantastic industry to be in with so much opportunity, collaboration is key and I hope to empower women in the business through coaching and mentoring to step out of their comfort zone to achieve their career goals, as well as encouraging more women to join the industry.”

BaxterStorey will be launching a ‘women in hospitality’ network for its female culinary teams to share knowledge, inspire and motivate others.

Ronan Harte, chief executive at BaxterStorey, added: “I’m delighted to welcome Ruth and her expertise in supporting our women chef teams to achieve their goals. Ruth is a trail blazer in our industry, a highly accomplished chef and an inspiration to many. 

“Under her mentorship and guidance, we look forward to launching our ‘women in hospitality’ network, creating more opportunities for career progression and development. This strong partnership will not only help us build on a bright future for our female chefs but will support us in delighting our customers with great food and memorable hospitality experiences.”