HIT Scotland scholarships were awarded to a Forth Valley College student and lecturer at conference in Glasgow recently.
Chef Lecturer Ruari Chatburn and Craig Thomson (18) from Alloa – who is studying for a HND in Hospitality Management and is pictured here wearing a suit and a red tie – will soon be heading to Switzerland for a training and skills visit at the prestigious Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne.
Paul Cunningham, FVC Curriculum Manager in the Department of Creative, Digital and Leisure Industries, said: “We are incredibly proud of Chef Lecturer Ruari Chatburn and Craig Thomson for attaining scholarships for their upcoming visit to the prestigious Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne. This opportunity not only highlights the exceptional talent and dedication of our staff and students, but also underscores our commitment to providing world-class educational experiences. We are confident that this experience will greatly enhance Craig's skills and knowledge, preparing him for a successful career in the hospitality industry."
The HIT Scotland hospitality conference took place on Thursday 6 February at the Voco Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow and a group of hospitality students also had the opportunity to listen to several inspirational speakers.
Michal Tomaszewski, FVC Hospitality Lecturer who accompanied the group to the conference. Said: “Among the speakers was Nick Hamilton, the brother of Formula One racing driver Lewis Hamilton. Nick shared his powerful story of overcoming his disability, admitting that there were times he hated his life. Despite these challenges, he made history as the first disabled driver in the British Touring Car Championship.
“In addition to the motivational talks, students participated in a cocktail-making masterclass and heard inspiring stories from chefs, including Rohan Wadke. Rohan – a former Forth Valley College Chef lecturer – was a former MasterChef participant who currently works at the luxury five-star hotel Cameron House in Loch Lomond.
“The highlight of the conference was the scholarship ceremony. It was great to see one of our students, Craig Thomson, receive a customer service scholarship, while Chef Lecturer Ruari Chatburn, was also awarded a scholarship and will be heading to Switzerland for his training soon.”
