Acorn Scholarship 2011 now open for entries

The organisers of the Acorn Scholarship 2011 are inviting entries for this year's competition.

The Acorn Scholarship, now in its ninth year, is an independent award that "seeks out young, talented individuals within the industry and helps them to realise their career ambitions generating the leaders of the future". Two of the past seven winners have gone on to win a Caterer and Hotelkeeper Acorn Award.

The self-nominated award is open to individuals who are UK residents and are able to work in the UK without restriction. Only one scholarship is awarded each year to someone who demonstrates "passion and potential and who is at a point in their career when winning the scholarship will make a real difference".

The annual competition has been designed by senior industry figures to help launch the career of a future star with a first prize scholarship valued at over £7,000.The winning scholar will receive a £2,000 bursary to use for professional development, £1,500 work of learnpurple training, plus monthly coaching sessions with learnpurple managing director Jane Sunley, a trip to Villeroy & Boch in Luxembourg, a development lunch where the winner will meet with leading industry figures and agree their development and educational activity for the year ahead, a designated "mentor" who acts as their guide during their year as a scholar including drawing up a flexible training plan, Springboard UK Ambassador training, and an annual subscription to Caterer and Hotelkeeper.

The current Acorn Scholar, Will Torrent, commented: "This has been a once in a lifetime opportunity and my confidence in business has grown enormously since winning The Acorn Scholarship.

"I've met the most amazing people, learned an incredible amount, and now my dream of opening up a high-end, trendy patisserie feels more real than ever before."

To enter, applicants are asked to write a submission and 10 finalists are chosen to present to a panel of judges including Michael Caines MBE, chef director, Abode Hotels, William Baxter, deputy CEO of BaxterStorey and Claire Sullivan, marketing director of Unilever Foodsolutions.

For more information on how to enter the scholarship, visit www.acornscholarship.org.uk or e-mail info@acornscholarship.org.uk for more information. Deadline for entries is 22 October.

Caterer's networking forum, Table Talk, has joined forces with the Acorn Scholarship to offer some incredible prizes over the next few weeks. To win a host of amazing prizes including afternoon tea at the Dorchester, dinner for two with wine at a Malmaison or Hotel du Vin property, lunch for two with wine at Gidleigh Park in Chagford, Devon, join Table Talk now. Each week all Table Talk members will be automatically entered into a prize draw, courtesy of the Acorn Scholarship. Simply go to www.caterersearch.com/tabletalk to become a member.

Visit the Acorn Scholarship blog at Table Talk or check out current holder Will Torrent's scholarship diary 

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By Amanda Afiya