Aspiring hospitality talent from colleges and universities across Scotland have just completed two scholarship programmes organised by HIT Scotland and the Savoy Educational Trust.
The first, the Student Chef Scholarship held on 3 and 4 June at the Edinburgh Food & Drink Academy, welcomed 14 professional cookery students for a two day combination of expert demonstrations and practical experiences, covering patisserie, fish preparation, cooking techniques and contemporary plating.
One participant was Peter Forbes, studying SVQ 2 Professional Cookery at UHI Invernes, who said: “Taking part in the scholarship was one of the highlights of my time at college.
“The chefs were incredibly supportive and willing to share their knowledge, and I learned techniques that I can take straight into my future career. It gave me a real insight into the standards and creativity required in a working kitchen.”
Derek Graham, 39, studying HNC Pastry at City of Glasgow College, added: “I loved every minute of the experience. From the demonstrations and practical sessions to meeting other student chefs from across Scotland.
“Creating the patisserie showpiece was a real highlight, it pushed me to develop new skills and gave me a huge sense of achievement. Patisserie is my real passion, so it was great to experience it at this level.”
Edinburgh Food & Drink Academy teacher Sophie Halpin said: “Over the two days, the students demonstrated an exceptional level of enthusiasm and professionalism.
“They embraced every aspect of the programme, from mastering fish filleting and refining plating techniques to developing advanced patisserie skills and creating beautiful Paris-Brest.
“It was particularly encouraging to see them take the techniques demonstrated on the first day and successfully apply them in the kitchen on day two,” said Halpin.
“The standard of work produced was outstanding, but just as impressive was their willingness to learn, ask questions and push themselves outside their comfort zones. They were a credit to their colleges and represent a very bright future for Scotland’s hospitality industry.”
Alongside the chef programme, HIT Scotland and SET also delivered a dedicated Customer Experience Scholarship for students interested in front-of-house, events, operations and guest service careers.
Held across two days in Glasgow, the programme featuring industry speakers representing Green Tourism, Booking.com and Apex Hotels on topics including sustainability, technology, customer experience and communication.
Heather Dunsmuir, studying Hospitality with Events at Ayrshire College, said: “My plan is to go into the event side of the industry, and the conflict management session was really enlightening. I can see myself using those skills in future work situations.
“It was useful to try some listening exercises and practise being assertive, and I know those skills will help me throughout my career.”
Jay Webster, who recently completed an F&B Service Diploma at New College Lanarkshire, added: “I haven’t worked in hospitality yet, so this has been a really useful experience for me. I can see that hospitality isn’t just about serving people in a bar, it’s about creating an experience for them, and I can maybe do that in some amazing venues.
“It was good to hear from Katie at the AC Marriott Hotel on how she started in F&B and worked her way to becoming a Hotel Manager. It’s really encouraging to see there are opportunities to reach the top if you work hard.”
Chief Executive of HIT Scotland, David Cochrane, commented: “These scholarships perfectly reflect what HIT Scotland aims to achieve through its educational programmes.
“Whether students aspire to become chefs, hotel managers, event professionals or guest experience leaders, the programmes provide invaluable opportunities to learn from industry experts, develop practical skills and gain confidence in their chosen career path.
“It has been fantastic to see students embrace every opportunity, challenge themselves and return to their colleges inspired and motivated. We are extremely grateful to the Savoy Educational Trust and all of our industry partners who helped create such meaningful experiences for Scotland’s future hospitality professionals.”
