Ruth Hansom partners with BaxterStorey to mentor female chefs

BaxterStorey has announced the addition of Ruth Hansom to its list of chef partners, to support the training and mentoring of female chefs across the business.

Hansom (pictured left), head chef at the Princess of Shoreditch in London, will work with the caterer's Chef Academy to champion and inspire the next generation of women in hospitality.

BaxterStorey will also be launching a ‘women in hospitality’ network for its female culinary teams, as well as opportunities for stages at the Princess in Shoreditch.

After completing a three-year apprenticeship at the Ritz under executive chef John Williams, Hansom went on to become the first female to win Young National Chef of the Year in 2017 and reached the final of the 2020 Great British Menu.

Hansom said: “I’m really excited to be working with BaxterStorey and its female chefs. Hospitality is a fantastic industry to be in with so much opportunity, collaboration is key and I hope to empower women in the business through coaching and mentoring to step out of their comfort zone to achieve their career goals, as well as encouraging more women to join the industry.”

Charlotte Becke, chef manager at BaxterStorey said: “By having Ruth join us, we have someone who really understands the challenges of working in a male-dominated industry and how to overcome them. I know so many of my peers are thrilled to have the chance to work with Ruth, and the network is going to be fantastic to get to know more women in the business, there’s definitely a buzz in the air, watch this space!”

Ronan Harte, chief executive at BaxterStorey, added: “I’m delighted to welcome Ruth and her expertise in supporting our women chef teams to achieve their goals. Ruth is a trail blazer in our industry, a highly accomplished chef and an inspiration to many. Under her mentorship and guidance, we look forward to launching our ‘women in hospitality’ network, creating more opportunities for career progression and development. This strong partnership will not only help us build on a bright future for our female chefs but will support us in delighting our customers with great food and memorable hospitality experiences.”