Congratulations to our class of 2019!
This year’s HIT Scotland scholarships were announced at the HIT Talent Conference on Thursday 7th February at the Principal Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow. Hosted by Jennifer Reoch, it was a fantastic day of educational and motivational speakers and workshops, designed to inspire hospitality leaders.
Attendees learned about goal setting and successful leadership, the trends impacting Scottish tourism and how to develop the visitor experience, how to light the spark in your staff and provide exemplary service. They heard from campaigner Cal Major from Paddle Against Plastic, saw how to “keep it human” in the digital age with Helena Langdon from Innocent, and heard how Rob Forkan turned a family tragedy into a successful business that helps others.
The HIT Scotland scholarships were presented at the end of the conference, to over 200 people working in or studying towards a career in Scottish hospitality. From Aberdeen to Arran, Edinburgh to Elgin, St Andrews to Skye, this year’s scholars are again from all over Scotland and working in all areas of hospitality.
David Cochrane, HIT Scotland Chief Executive said: “It was a really tough decision for the panel to decide who would get scholarships this year. It was fantastic to see so many people, in all roles and at all stages of their career, show such passion for our industry here in Scotland. Everyone was keen to learn as much as they could from one of our scholarships to help them develop personally, and to benefit their company, their team, and the guests who visit them. We are sure that the industry, all across Scotland, will benefit from the learning experiences that this year’s scholars will take part in.”
The Fairlie Scholarship was also launched at the Conference. This new scholarship is a fantastic opportunity that will be a fitting and lasting tribute to the life and achievements of the late chef Andrew Fairlie. Sponsored jointly by HIT Scotland, the Scottish Government and The Gleneagles Hotel, and positioned as the ultimate scholarship any aspiring chef could receive, The Fairlie Scholarship will be awarded annually to a male and female chef in light of Andrew’s unwavering commitment to diversity in the kitchen.
More information on The Fairlie Scholarship here.