The 6th annual Gold Service Scholarship is well underway, and the scheme’s Trustees and Judges undertook the first challenge to discover the 2018 Scholar with a rigorous round of Quarter Finals at The Berkeley on 20 October and The Langham in London on 21 October.
Chairman of the Judges Edward Griffiths was impressed with the level of skill witnessed at this early stage of the competition. He stated: “An amazing array of talent delighted us all, with keen candidates hailing all over the country. 2018 is going to be an excellent vintage for the Gold Service Scholarship!”
More than 100 candidates were assessed over the two days by 20 Judges, with 32 successful Semi-Finalists going through to the next stage – the Semi Finals – which will take place at Rosewood London on 21 November. (See the list below.)
The 2017 Scholar Stephanie Beresforde – who is Assistant Restaurant Manager at Jean-Georges at The Connaught in London – commented on the exciting new talent competing for the 2018 Scholarship. She explained: “Each year, the Gold Service Scholarship has grown in reputation and I am so proud to be the current Scholar. The benefits to my personal and professional growth over the past months have been invaluable. I have had access to some of the most senior professionals in the hospitality industry, and their guidance and mentoring have helped me grow in my own role. The candidates for the 2018 Scholarship will benefit hugely from the experience at each stage of the competition.”
After the Semi Final stage, the candidates will be whittled down to just eight, who will compete at the Finals, scheduled to take place on 29 January at Massimo at Corinthia London. Rigorous tasks and interviews will require each candidate to display not only their job skills – from front- of-house service to wine knowledge – but also their enthusiasm to grow their careers in the hospitality industry.
The new 2018 Scholar will be announced at a prestigious ceremony in February at Claridge’s Hotel, where past Scholars, the Gold Service Trustees, Directors and Ambassadors, and key members of the hospitality industry will gather to celebrate the success.
Candidates for the 2018 Scholarship work in a variety of roles and organisations, ranging from restaurants, modern pubs and hotels, to contract catering companies, The Royal Household and the Royal Air Force.
The Semi Finalists announced for the Gold Service Scholarship 2018 are:
ADINA ANTOFIE Assistant Restaurant Manager at Coq d’Argent, London
CATARINA CALDEIR Head Waitress at Langshott Manor Hotel, Surrey
JEANNIE DOHERTY Supervisor at The Savoy Hotel, London
LAUDY GIBBA-SMITH Head Waitress at L’Enclume, Cumbria
PIERS GIBSON-BIRCH Junior Assistant Restaurant Manager at The Wernher Restaurant at Luton Hoo, Luton
MORAG HAMILTON Steward at Royal Air Force, Lincoln
CHRISTOPHER HURLE Head Waiter at Jean-Georges at The Connaught, London
CLAUDIO INTROZZI Restaurant Manager at Heddon Street Kitchen, London
ALEXANDER JAGNE Brasserie Manager at Lucknam Park Hotel, Chippenham
SEBASTIAN KOEWIUS Assistant Room Service Manager at Corinthia Hotel, London
CHRISTIAN KÖHLE Head Waiter at Fera at Claridge’s, London
TOMAS KUBART Assistant General Manager at The Coach, Buckinghamshire
GIUSEPPE LABORAGINE Assistant Restaurant Manager at The Greenhouse, London
SILVIA LISANTI Waitress at The Collins Room at The Berkeley, London
PHILIP LITTLEWOOD Chef de Rang at Northcote Manor, Lancashire
MARIANO GABRIELE RUIU Waiter at The Fat Duck, Berkshire
SARAH MAY COWARD Senior Footman of The Glass Pantry at The Royal Household,London
GEORGE MCGETTIGAN Floor Manager at 45 Park Lane, Dorchester Collection, London
JAVIER MELENDO Senior Waiter at Sexy Fish, London
MAURA MILIA Junior Assistant Bar Manager at The Connaught, London
AIDAN MONK Restaurant Supervisor at Four Seasons Ten Trinity Square, London
ALEX PERN Assistant Restaurant Manager at The Star Inn, North Yorkshire
BEATRIZ PINTO DA SILVA Butler at The Savoy Hotel, London
MILLIE POVEY Chef de Rang at Core by Clare Smyth, London
CHARLOTTE POYNTON Sommelier and Assistant Restaurant Manager at The ThreeChimneys, Isle of Skye
SAMIN PUN Head Waiter at Sexy Fish, London
EUGENIO SIMONELLI Junior Maitre d’Hotel at Le Gavroche, London
ALEXANDRA SPATAR Assistant Restaurant Manager at The Woodspeen Restaurant and Cookery School, Berkshire
MICHAEL STAUB Floor Manager at Rosewood, London ALEX SUMERAUER 1st Waiter at The Ritz, London
ALEX USOVS Lounge and Bar Restaurant Manager at D&D London, London
DAVID WALLACE Floor Manager at Rosewood, London
Past Scholars have gone on to achieve remarkable career growth, due in part to the networks that they establish during their association and mentoring with the Gold Service Scholarship. For full information about the Scholarship, check the website – www.thegoldservicescholarshsip.co.uk
