The industry is letting down the talented youth of today

Few people can say that they are not moved by the sight of one of their countrymen being awarded a medal at the Olympics. Even the most cynical of spectators must have found it hard not to feel proud when they watched the Searle brothers clinch the gold medal in the coxed pairs rowing event at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, for example. Cox Garry Herbert's wet face remains imprinted on the nation's memory.

So it is with the competitors of the World Skills Competition, more commonly known as the Skill Olympics, at which Stuart Bennett became the first British waiter to win a bronze medal last month. He, along with other competitors aged just 19, 20 and 21 from more than 30 different nations, battled it out across 40 varying trades, completing their set projects in silence, while 90,000 spectators looked on.

For the past four years, Caterer has supported the British hospitality competitors at the Skill Olympics, but unlike its sporting counterpart national newspaper coverage of the biennial event is minimal.

These youngsters spend their days off preparing for this event. They beg and borrow equipment to take out to the host country because much of it isn't provided for them. Their trainers - the British hospitality skill judges - exploit their relationships with suppliers to secure ingredients and products as well as financial support. Both competitors and judges have to spend the two weeks of the event in a foreign country, sharing accommodation with their relatively unknown British team-mates.

They shouldn't have to struggle. The industry should be falling over itself to be investing in its future leaders. Financial support should be automatic. Backers would, after all, be seen by an audience worldwide (the Skill Olympics is televised in many of the competing nations' countries). Other nations' competitors are easily identifiable by the smart travelling trunks housing their equipment, sporting their countries' team colours, the competitor's name, country and sponsors.

Caterer‘s letters page is frequently littered with disgruntled employers bemoaning the lack of skill among the young in the industry. The Skill Olympics - like the Acorn Awards, the Academy of Culinary Arts' Annual Awards of Excellence, the American Express Young Chef Young Waiter, Nestlé Toque d'Or and the Roux Scholarship, among others - demonstrate that there are many youngsters out there willing to give a great deal to hone their trade. Ability and dedication are certainly not lacking. But they need support.

The British hospitality competitors deserve better recognition from the industry. After all, they are proud to represent their trade and their country. Their country and their trade should be proud to support them.

Amanda Afiya

Deputy Editor

Chef