Applications are now open for the HIT Scotland scholarship programme. The programme, designed to provide new skills or knowledge, experience best practice, and refresh ways of thinking, is split into business, operational and inspirational categories, delivering a variety of opportunities for those working in, or studying towards a career in, Scottish hospitality at all levels, and all job roles.
This year also sees the beginning of a new scholarship opportunity in memory of Lisa Wishart, the MD of the Lisini Pub Company who sadly passed away earlier this year. Of the new Lisa Wishart Scholarship, Hit Scotland said, “Lisa was an inspirational leader who ran a thriving hospitality company, and was a great ambassador for the trade. An applicant from the licenced trade who shows the same passion for the industry as Lisa did will be awarded a scholarship in her name.”
The Lisa Wishart Scholarship joins the Chris Rouse Scholarship and Graeme Gibson Scholarship along with The Hickory Excellence Scholars in the Special Awards category. The Chris Rouse Scholarship will be awarded to someone working in the Ayrshire area, who HIT believe shows the same enthusiasm for their career as Chris himself, and the Graeme Gibson Scholarship will come from the Greater Glasgow area, and will be an emerging Young Manager who shows great potential for the future within the industry.
Hickory, the event catering and bar hospitality specialists, are supporting The Hickory Excellence Scholar . Susan Ireland, Hickory CEO said, “A number of Hickory employees have benefitted from HIT Scotland scholarships over the years, and we wanted to give back to our amazing industry by supporting the HIT scholarship programme and allowing 5 scholars the chance to take a step forward on their own journey to excellence.”
The three main categories for scholarships cover Business Empowerment, Operational Empowerment and Inspirational categories.
With Business Empowerment the objective is to enhance business skills for people management whether it’s for the first step as a Team Leader, or as a Senior Executive. The Resilience scholarship is in here too, and is for those looking for some tools to help them cope better at work.
We Are Extraordinary are also providing free places on their Women in Hospitality and Tourism Leadership programme, and to the Open University Scotland for the variety of Microdentials on offer.
With Operational Empowerment HIT are look at growing and enhancing core skills and knowledge for the specific role. It includes scholarships in Understanding Revenue, Sales, Customer Experience and Digital Marketing. New for 2024 is Driving F&B Profitability.
Hub International are providing a Pastry Masterclass for chefs looking to gain some experience in this area, and a Cocktail Masterclass looking at both the product and service aspect.
Hospitality Health are again providing a Mental Health First Aid course for those looking to be designated mental health first aider for their business.
HIT have also linked up with Green Tourism to teach about sustainability, and the team at the Scottish Spa and Wellness Collective will be offering their knowledge for Spa Success.
The Inspirational Empowerment category encourages creativity and are designed to help grow personally, or provide inspiration for the workplace.
The full details of the scholarships can be found here. The deadline for applications is closes midnight 19/11/23.