High profile names to mark the Gold Service Scholarship launch

Tom Kerridge (pictured), Clare Smyth, Fay Maschler and Jesse Burgess will be joining Marc Socker and Eugenio Pirri to speak at an event to mark the launch of this year's Gold Service Scholarship. 

At 3pm on 2 September, the event will bring leading names from the sector together at Corinthia London to kick off the UK's only dedicated front-of-house competition.

Kerridge, owner of Kerridge's Bar & Grill at the Corinthia – the only two Michelin-starred pub, the Hand and Flowers in Marlow – will be joined by Smyth, owner of three-Michelin-starred restaurant Core in London, to discuss front-of-house service, trends, their experience of service and their careers, along with insights on what makes great service and its importance to the industry at large. 

Also speaking at the event will be social media sensation Jesse Burgess (aka TopJaw), as well as Maybourne Hotel Group CEO Marc Socker, Tatler's iconic restaurant critic Fay Maschler, and Dorchester Collection CEO Eugenio Pirri. 

The Scholarship

The Gold Service Scholarship is open to those aged 22–28 working full-time in the UK in front-of-house food and beverage service. 

During the competition, entrants will be assessed on their front-of-house skills, from table setting and menu knowledge to practical food and beverage service skills. 

They will benefit from the mentorship of top hospitality professionals, with trustees including Alastair Storey, founder and chair of WSH; former deputy master of the Royal Household, Edward Griffiths; managing director of the Corinthia London Thomas Kochs; Lydia Forte, group director of food and beverage at Rocco Forte Hotels; legendary maitre ds Silvano Giraldin and Sergio Rebecchi; MD of WSH restaurants Alessandro Fasoli and former Berkeley GM Knut Wylde. 

Winners will enjoy educational trips to the EHL Hospitality Business School in Switzerland where they will undertake a bespoke four-day course, as well as a study trip with Graham's Port to Porto and the Douro, and automatic membership to the competition's Team Gold alumni network. 

They will also be given the chance to stage at leading UK restaurants, including Core by Clare Smyth and The Ritz, and work a garden party at Buckingham Palace.

The Scholar will additionally receive a bespoke programme of learning opportunities, with the opportunity to stage at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, an overseas Rocco Forte Hotel, the three-Michelin-starred Waterside Inn in Bray, work at a state visit, and a trip to Champagne with Laurent Perrier. 

All who make the quarter- and semi-finals will receive further professional development training and workshops. 

Last year's winner, Scott Crowe, comments: "I am so grateful for the GSS and the team behind it. The educational trips and experiences are those of dreams, such as visiting the Douro Valley, Champagne, EHL and stages in world-class establishments.

"If you are eligible to apply, I'd urge you to do so. There really is nothing else like this anywhere else in the world. You get the chance to showcase your talents in front of the industry's finest, learn new skills and grow your confidence in this industry we all love."

The closing date for applications is 1 October, with a series of quarter- and semi-finals to follow. The final will take place at the Corinthia London in January 2025. 

The 2025 Scholar will be announced in February at an awards reception at Claridge's Hotel. 

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