Harry Champion from Bournemouth University and Mia Jorjikia from Oxford Brookes University have been named as the Young Guns of 2018.
The two students, who are both studying International Hospitality Management, were awarded the accolade by the Council for Hospitality Management Education (CHME). Young Guns is a competition open to students completing hospitality degrees, or degrees with hospitality focused modules, which include work experience as part of the programme. It gives students a chance to demonstrate their passion and drive, as well as the opportunity to get noticed by top employers. The final took place yesterday at a networking lunch held at the RAF Club in London’s Mayfair, eight contenders competed in what was a closely fought final. Champion and Jorjikia impressed the judges with details of the successes they achieved during work experience and their plans for a future hospitality career.
Champion worked in the events team at Anton Mosimann’s private members’ club in London, Mossimann’s for his work placement and hopes to take up a position at Guards Polo Club in Windsor following the completion of his degree in the summer. Champion said that it was “a real honour and privilege” to receive the Young Gunns award. “I very much enjoyed taking part in the final and met some wonderful people, I’m now looking forward to being an ambassador for hospitality in the future,” he said.
As well as receiving the glass Young Guns trophies from RAF Club chief executive and club secretary Miles Pooley, the two winners will also receive a year’s membership for the Institute of Hospitality, a year’s subscription to The Caterer and an invitation to the Cateys. Joining Pooley on the judging panel were Ben Buet, senior operations manager of Purple Cubed, Liz Cave, director at Your Invisible Partner; Peter Ducker, chief executive of the Institute of Hospitality; Jackie Gilbert, vice president operation UK – Mercure and Ibis Styles hotels at AccorHotels; Paul Hurren, managing direcror of Lusso Catering; Tim West, former managing director of Lexington Catering; and Janet Harmer, associate editor at The Caterer.
Young Gunns finalists
Spencer Brown, Oxford Brookes University
Harry Champion, Bournemouth University
Catherine Dowson, Leeds Beckett University
Victoria Evans, Sheffield Hallam University
Ismay Hawthorn, Oxford Brookes University
Luke Jenkins, Leeds Beckett University
Mia Jorjikia, Oxford Brookes University
Victoria Robertson, Leeds Beckett University
Source WRITTEN BY: JANET HARMER The Caterer
https://www.thecaterer.com/articles/522633/young-guns-2018-winners-revealed