Working in the hospitality industry

If you're considering getting into the hospitality industry, there are many many reasons why this is going to benefit you as a person!

The hospitality industry is varied with roles, offering something different every day. There are a variety of benefits that present themselves when becoming a part of this particular industry, below are the f main reasons why a hospitality career is desirable:

Opportunities

Hospitality is all about variety, there is never a working day thaty is dull. There are always new challenges to be tackled, even the opportunity to travel to different places; it's understandable how this could make you want to get up early and head to work with a spring in your step.

Appreciation

There will be a few times where you are thanked for the work you do which is a great motivator to continue to perform at your best. Patrons will remind you that your work is highly appreciated - beign told your work is making others happy is truly rewarding.

Stability

The industry is incredibly stable - the financial meltdown that occured in 2008/9 hit the hospitality industry, however it survived and again is flourishing as an industry.

Creative

Hospitality dabbles in creativity with constant challenges that need to be faced head on, requiring both creative and critical thinking.

For further information on the available hospitality roles, please visit our website!

Head Chef Awards - could you be next?

Head Chef

Celebrity chef James Martin, host of BBC TV show Saturday Kitchen, has scooped the Special Award at the Craft Guild of Chefs (CGC) Awards 2013 which also honoured Lima restaurant and The Ivy's April Partridge.  Martin was the recipient of this year's Special Award at the annual ceremony, now in its 20th year,  which was held last night in front of an audience of more than 800 industry professionals gathered at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.  

Enormous contribution

Of the 16 award categories, the Special Award, sponsored by Sodexo, is the only one where nominations are not required  - the winner is chosen by the committee of the CGC who choose one person that has made an 'enormous contribution' to the industry.

The celebrity chef follows in the footsteps of Heston Blumenthal, Brian Turner, Raymond Blanc, Phil Howard and Cyrus Todiwala  who have all won the Special Award previously.  Of the 19 previous Special Award winners, 12 were present on the stage earlier in the evening to mark the 20th anniversary of the awards.

Reach out

Opening the awards dinner and ceremony, Christopher Basten, newly-appointed chair of the CGC,  said the awards were designed to reward chef talent from every area of the industry; from fine dining restaurants and pubs to contract caterers and staff in the armed services.

“The Craft Guild of Chefs is inclusive and this is an important message to spread throughout the industry,” he said. “We bring together people from all aspects of the hospitality and food service sectors - from those just starting out in their careers and considering head chef jobs to those at the very top of their game. We want to reach out to everyone that shares our passion for our industry,” Basten added.

The Craft Guild of Chef Awards 2013 winners: 

• Apprentice Chef Award - Ruth Hansom, Boundary Restaurant

• Banqueting & Event Chef Award - Michael Bullard, West Bromwich Albion FC

• Armed Services Chef Award - Cpl Alun Davies, Catering Team RAF Squadron

• Chef Lecturer Award - Patricia Paskins, University of West London

• Competition Chef Award - Javier Mercado, Le Cordon Bleu

• Contract Catering Chef Award - Darren Thompson, Sodexo

• Cost Sector Chef Award - Rob Bean, University of Leicester

• New Restaurant of the Year Award - Lima

• Development Chef Award - Andy Twells, Eurest Instore

• Pastry Chef Award - Andrew Ditchfield, House of Commons

• Ethnic Chef Award - Giorgio Locatelli, Locanda Locatelli

• People’s Choice Award - Simon Boyle, Brigade/Beyond Food Foundation

• Pub Chef Award - Stosie Madi, Parkers Arms

• Restaurant Chef Award - Pascal Aussignac, Gascon Connection

• Young Chef Award - April Partridge, The Ivy Restaurant

• Special Award - James Martin, The Talbot Hotel