Hospitality apprentices celebrated at 2023 Purple Umbrella Awards
Apprentices from across the UK’s hospitality industry were celebrated last night at the prestigious Purple Umbrella Awards held at BAFTA 195, the British Academy of Film and Television in London.
Organised by Umbrella Training and hosted by 2012 MasterChef winner, TV chef, restaurateur and cookbook author Shelina Permalloo, the awards were presented to talented chefs, staff, supervisors and managers from across the hotel, restaurant and foodservice sectors.
The apprentices were commended for their commitment to learning and their personal achievements over the past 12-18 months.
Apprentices from Home Grown Hotels – best known for the Pig group of hotels – walked away with multiple awards: Eleanor Wright from The Pig at Combe won Best Chef Apprentice, and Alicia Morley Blackett from The Pig at Combe was handed the Hospitality Passion Award, while Marshall Bax from The Pig at Bridge Place was given the Continuous Learning in Hospitality Award.
Russell Johnson, from Lime Wood Hotel, won Best Level 3 Apprentice.
The Farncombe Estate won double: Florin Tucan won Best Level 2 Apprentice, while Niamh Fagan was handed the award for Best apprentice from another further education provider. There were also winners from businesses including Iconic Luxury Hotels, CH&CO, Red Carnation Hotels and The Goring.
There were also a multitude of highly commended finalists across each award.
Piers Zangana, director of Susa Comms, received the evening’s Special Award, recognising his campaign to raise awareness of human rights violations in Iran through his Woman.Life.Freedom campaign video, as well as his efforts to create positive messaging around Persian culture through the launch of the Persian Hospitality Network and Cook for Iran.
Umbrella Training founder Adele Oxberry said: “A huge congratulations to all this year’s finalists and award winners. Hospitality is, and will continue to be, one of the UK’s most amazing sectors, not only providing incredible value to the UK’s economy, but to communities as well.
“These individuals form the backbone of so many hotels, restaurants, pubs and foodservice businesses, and having supported their employers and the industry over the last few years, they are now leading it towards a bright future.
“The judges had a tough task with such a high calibre of entries this year. Every one of the finalists should be very proud of what they have achieved.”
Apprentices were nominated for the awards by their employers and winners selected by a panel of hospitality experts, including Harry Murray MBE, Hospitality Action chief executive Mark Lewis, Be Inclusive Hospitality founder Lorraine Copes, and Red Carnation Hotels’ VP of people and culture Liz McGivern.
The full list of winners included:
- Best Level 2 Apprentice: Florin Tucan, The Fish Hotel, Farncombe Estate
- Best Chef Apprentice: Eleanor Wright, The Pig at Combe, Home Grown Hotels
- Best Level 3 Apprentice: Russell Johnson, Lime Wood Hotel
- Best Level 4 Apprentice: David Chenesseau, Mayfair Townhouse, Iconic Luxury Hotels
- Best Level 5 Apprentice: Ben Jeffrey, Ironmongers’ Hall, CH&CO
- Best Umbrella Alumni: Emma Mackey, Red Carnation Hotels
- Best apprentice from another further education provider: Niamh Fagan, Farncombe Life Ltd, Farncombe Estate
- Special Award: Piers Zangana, director, Susa Comms
- Hospitality Passion Award: Alicia Morley Blackett, The Pig at Combe, Home Grown Hotels
- Hospitality Spirit Award: James Walde, The Goring
- Continuous Learning in Hospitality Award: Marshall Bax, The Pig at Bridge Place, Home Grown Hotels
- Hospitality Dedication Award: Lewis Rosser, DoubleTree by Hilton Leeds City Centre, Valor Hospitality
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