The Acorn Scholarship 2014 now open for entries

The Acorn Scholarship, an independent award created by previous winners of Caterer and Hotelkeeper's Acorn Awards has launched its search for the 2014 Acorn Scholar.

Now in its 12th year, the competition is a chance for a young manager, chef, HR manager, sommelier, or anyone involved in hospitality aged 18-25 to make a name for themself with some of the most respected names in the industry.

Past winners have gone on to be entrepreneurs, hotel general managers, directors of business and Caterer and Hotelkeeper Acorn '30 under 30′ winners.

There is a prize of more than £5,000 and the winner will become part of a prestigious Acorn Scholarship Alumni who regularly meet for networking and idea sharing.

The judges who include Michael Caines, operational partner and director of ABode Hotels and Michael Caines; Sean Wheeler, area director of human resources for the Dorchester Collection UK and James Horler, chief executive of 3Sixty Restaurants Ltd, non-executive chairman of Cartwheel Recruitment and Charterhouse Leisure are looking for the determinedly ambitious individuals; the leaders of tomorrow with drive and passion for our diverse, fast moving, exciting industry.

A new Acorn Scholarship website to coincide with the launch allows individuals who are UK residents and able to work in the UK without restriction to study previous winners' profiles and check out the judges they will be facing if they reach the final.

The competition is now open for entries via www.acornscholarship.org.uk with a closing date of the 21 October. Applicants are asked to complete an online entry form and the shortlisted finalists will be asked to present the submission to a panel of judges on the 25 November at the Village Inn, North Yorkshire, owned by previous Acorn Scholarship winner John Price.