Sparking ambition, building confidence, and broadening horizons.
HIT Scotland Scholarships
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Our renowned HIT Scholarships are designed to give early-career and mid-level professionals a springboard to grow their experience and develop new skills.
Whether through hands-on experience, learning from industry leaders or exploring best practice from around the world, each scholarship is a life-changing opportunity to step-up, stand out and give-back.
Open to anyone working in the sector, our Scholarships help to unlock potential, grow confidence and fuel ambition – because when individuals succeed, everyone in our industry thrives.
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Business
Business Scholarships cover a range of management development opportunities, from those just starting out in a supervisory role, to more senior managers. There are a variety of people management and leadership scholarships to help you to develop your career in hospitality
Operational
Operational Scholarships can equip you with specific craft and core skills to grow your career in hospitality. From sales and revenue, to food and drink. Let us know what you need and together we will find the right fit.
Inspirational
An Inspirational Scholarship encourages you to be creative and motivates you to develop. This is the time for you to inspire us so let us know what you need to excel in your career in hospitality and we will help you to find the right opportunity.
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Find out what scholarship opportunities are available for 2027.
Graeme Gibson Scholarship
2023 saw the first Graeme Gibson Scholarship. Graeme was a most popular General Manager and he worked in many of the top establishments across Scotland. It was his dry sense of humour, his commitment to quality and above all, his strong belief in developing people that engaged him in so many positive activities. The winner of the Graeme Gibson Scholarship will come from the Greater Glasgow area and will be an emerging Young Manager who shows great potential for the future within the industry.
The winner will receive four hour long sessions with an Executive Coach, to help them work on their personal and career development. Tailored to their own needs, this mentor will help them maximise their impact and performance, looking at areas of improvement to help them be the best version of themselves, and excel within their role in hospitality.
Lisa Wishart Scholarship
2024 saw the beginning of a new scholarship opportunity in memory of Lisa Wishart, the MD of the Lisini Pub Company who sadly passed away in 2023. Lisa was an inspirational leader who ran a thriving hospitality company, and was a great ambassador for the trade. Lisa believed that their staff contributed greatly to the company’s success, she understood the value of finding the right team to work for you, and treating them as a family, so it is fitting to provide this development opportunity in her name.
Licensed trade employees should apply for a scholarship as normal, and HIT Scotland will select an applicant who they believe shows the same passion for the industry as Lisa did, to be named our Lisa Wishart Scholar.
Thanks go to Susan Young at the Scottish Bar & Pub Awards for naming HIT Scotland as their charity partner, with the donations on the night funding this scholarship.
