Young Scottish Restaurateur & Hotelier Awards Finalist Announced

Great to see careers options being flagged up in a different way with the annoucnement of the finalists for a couple of prestigious awards. The follwoing is reproduced from Scotland Food and Drink.

The search for the nation's most promising talent in the hospitality industry has come to a conclusion with the final judging for the 2011 ScotHot Young Scottish Restaurateur and Young Hotelier of the Year.

Having reached the final stage of the competition, 14 of Scotland's brightest young stars of the hospitality sector faced a day of interviews with some of the industry's leading experts, including Stephen Carter OBE, Rob Moore, chairman of the Institute of Hospitality and Ian Burke, editor of Caterer.com.

The finalists are:

Young Scottish Restaurateur of the Year

• Liam Bedwell, WEST Brewery, Bar & Restaurant, Glasgow
• Scott Devine, The Merrylee Bar & Kitchen, Glasgow
• Paul McCutcheon, e:s:I, Edinburgh
• Stephen Morrison, La Vallée Blanche, Glasgow
• Hannah Norman, Room with a View, Aberdour
• Daniella Sarti, Sarti, Glasgow
• Jon Whitton, Ricks, Edinburgh

Young Scottish Hotelier of the Year Award

• Calum Lawrie, Park Inn Radisson, Aberdeen
• Danielle Lee, Crown Court Hotel, Inverness
• Barry Rowland, Jurys Inn, Edinburgh
• Hina Simpson, Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh
• Nick Sharp, The Inch Hotel, Fort Augustus
• Peter Walker, Meldrum House Country Hotel & Golf Course, Aberdeen

Sponsored by Caterer.com, the prestigious award offers a "money can't buy" prize and invaluable experience, working alongside two of Scotland's biggest industry heavyweights, Michelin-starred chef, Martin Wishart and respected hotelier Stephen Carter, managing director of Cameron House.

The winning restaurateur will earn themselves an exclusive work placement with Martin Wishart, including hosting a lunch at Restaurant Martin Wishart as Maitre'D. Meanwhile, the winning hotelier will receive a fantastic prize including a work placement with Stephen Carter at Cameron House on Loch Lomond.

This exciting competition celebrates the very best of Scotland's new talent, recognising young Scottish restaurateurs under 30 and offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from the very best professionals in the industry.

Judges are looking for individuals who have already helped to make a significant difference to their establishment, demonstrating strong, inspirational leadership skills and commitment to exceptional customer care.

Stephen Carter said: "The standard of entries has been overwhelming and all of the finalists should be proud of reaching this stage. I hope that the launch of this award will go a long way to highlight the need for investment in Scottish hospitality and the importance of encouraging, the next generation of leaders in the industry."

Ian Burke of Caterer.com said: "I think it is fantastic that ScotHot is doing so much to recognise the industry's young talent. As recently demonstrated by the popularity of BBC's Michel Roux Jnr's The Service, this is a skilled and challenging profession.

"It is vital to the growth of Scotland's important hospitality sector that we continue to encourage emerging young talent."

The winner will be announced during ScotHot 2011 which takes place at the SECC, Glasgow from 28 February-3 March.