Eight finalists revealed for 2024 Gold Service Scholarship

Eight finalists have been announced for the 2024 Gold Service Scholarship, the competition for young, front-of-house professionals.

The finalists, who work in food and beverage roles and are aged between 22 and 28, come from an array of hospitality backgrounds, ranging from restaurants to members clubs across the UK.

They will take part in the finals at the Corinthia London on 15 January, where they will showcase their social, theoretical and practical skills to high-profile guests in a real-life service environment at the Northall restaurant.

The Gold Service Scholarship celebrated a record number of entries this year, which resulted in competitive heats at the quarter-finals in Hotel Café Royal and the Langham hotel, as well as a tense semi-final at the Rosewood London.

Edward Griffiths, trustee and chair of judges, said: “This has been another incredible year for the Gold Service Scholarship.

“Not only was it a record-breaking year in terms of number of applicants, but the standard has been exceptional, so getting our 40 semi-finalists down to eight was quite the task.”

He added: “We are all very much looking forward to what is going to be an incredible final.”

The finalists for the 2024 Gold Service Scholarship are:

• Serena Buono, Assistant Manager, Royal Automobile Club, Surrey
• Scott Crowe, Supervisor, Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh
• Simona Federová, Chef de Rang, the Ritz London
• Etienne Harding, Assistant Restaurant Manager, the Goring Hotel, London
• Rizwan Khan, General Manager, Junsei Marylebone, London
• Annabel Rohm, Restaurant Assistant Manager, Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire
• Alexandra Sollis, Guest Relations Manager, the Scarlet Hotel, Cornwall
• Joe Southwood, Assistant Lounge Manager, Corinthia London

The Gold Service Scholarship was launched in 2012 with the aim of fostering the next generation of front-of-house talent in the UK.

The winning scholar will be announced on 5 February at an awards ceremony at Claridge’s in London.