Applications open for £10,000 hospitality scholarship

The Oxford Cultural Collective (OCC) has opened applications to the Lou Willcock scholarship for UK-based hospitality employees and students.

Winners will receive a £10,000 grant to support creative projects and will also be provided with a personal mentor for a year.

The scholarship is open to those aged 18 to 35 who are UK residents studying or working in hospitality or gastronomy.

Applicants should submit a personal or professional development project in line with their aspirations and consider the lasting legacy of their proposal.

Examples include overseas travel, an entrepreneurial venture, or the launch of a community project.

The proposal must demonstrate a strong social purpose and evidence of appropriate planning and research.

Judges for the 2023 Lou Willcock scholarship include Ravinder Bhogal (pictured), food writer and proprietor of Jikoni in London’s Marylebone, and restaurant critic Tom Parker Bowles.

Martin Holden-White, chair of the OCC Trust charity, said: “We are dedicated to supporting those who are in the early stages of their careers.

"The world of hospitality provides amazing careers opportunities, but we all need a bit of help along the way.

"We urge employers to encourage their young members of staff to apply for the Lou Willcock Scholarship. It is a perfect platform for those with real potential.”

The scholarship was created to honour the legacy of Lou Willcock, who died in 2018. She was a creative force in hospitality and a close friend of the OCC.

The closing date for applications is 13 January 2023.

For further details visit the OCC website.

Image: CandyBox Images / Shutterstock