Win dinner for two at any Malmaison or Hotel du Vin property in the Acorn Scholarship 2011 prize giveaway

Win dinner for two at any Malmaison or Hotel du Vin property in the Acorn Scholarship 2011 prize giveaway

The Acorn Scholarship 2011 is now open for entries and in the run up to the awards, the organisers have joined forces with Caterer's networking forum, Table Talk, to offer two sets of dinner for two at any Malmaison or Hotel du Vin property.

All you have to do is join Table Talk and then, on Friday, every member of Table Talk will be entered into a prize draw. Simply go to www.caterersearch.com/tabletalk to become a member and be in with a chance of winning.

If you are interested in entering the Acorn Scholarship, the 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.

Acorn Scholarship 2011 now open for entries >>

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By Amanda Afiya

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If you have something to say on this story or anything else join the debate at Table Talk - Caterer's new networking forum. Go to www.caterersearch.com/tabletalk

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