HIT Scotland scholars announced

Scottish hospitality recognised twenty of its brightest young stars last week by awarding them scholarships at the Emerging Talent Conference.

Sponsored by the Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland, the event was staged at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on 10 February, and included a day of debate and best practice seminars.

Chief executive of HIT Scotland David Cochrane said: "It is so important that those who work in the industry look forward with the talented young people that are going to be part of it as well as share their knowledge and experience."

Each scholarship winner will receive a placement at a world-class establishment at home or abroad such as the Disney Institute, the Jumeirah in Dubai and Nick Nair's Cook School.

The HIT scholars are: Lindsay Aitchison, Glasgow Metropolitan College; David McGowan, Tulloch Castle hotel; Jamie Hastings, Robert Gordon University; Barrie Fleming, Malmaison Edinburgh hotel; Kelly Johnstone, St Andrews Bay golf resort and spa; Colette Sherry, City Inn Glasgow hotel; Alison Pratt, the Gleneagles hotel; Felicia Markram, City Inn Glasgow hotel; Graham Campbell, Caledonian hotel, Olban; David Barkley, Townhouse Company; Chloe McQuillan, VisitScotland.com; Hugh Cater, Channings hotel; Nicola Sinclair, Glasgow Metropolitan College; Thomas Browning, Swallow hotel, Inveraray; Kim Falconer, the Balmoral hotel; Maura Petrie, St Andrews Bay golf resort and spa; Helen Vass, Glasgow Caledonian University; Nina-Valesca Mozer, the Bosville hotel, Portee; Keith Campbell, Buccleuch Visitor Services, Selkirk.

Lisa Anne Isaacson was the Frank Mullen Trust Scholarship winner and is from Channings hotel, Edinburgh.

The Emerging Talent Conference was launched last year by HIT Scotland in response to a report by recruitment company Chess Partnership, which found employers needed to address the different values and aspirations of the latest generation of workers.

By Chris Druce

Get your copy of Caterer and Hotelkeeper every week -