Hospitality award recognises young talent

Young employees working in the hospitality industry are being encouraged to enter an award which offers them a chance to receive funding and training abroad. The Olive Barnett Award is open to front or house and reception staff under the age of 30. The winner goes on a week long hospitality management course at the Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne in Switzerland as well as receiving a £1000 grant for a three-year period. Two runners up receive grants of £750 and £500. Entrants must submit a 500 word answer to the following question: “Why is the reception or front of house role one of the most important positions in the business?” Judges select the best eight who are invited to make a presentation on their career achievements to date and their plan for the next five years. Merit is given for coherence and originality of content, interest factor to the reader and presentation and grammar. To find out more about the entry requirements, and to enter go to the website, www.springboarduk.org.uk/olive, or apply by post to: Olive Barnett Award, Springboard UK Ltd 3 Denmark Street, London WC2H 8LP. Entries close 14 February. The winners will be announced in the Spring. Olive Barnett OBE was head of the Savoy Training department at the Saboy Hotel, which specialised in management training. The award was created in 1975 originally for Savoy employees, but has since been expanded.