Press release for Purple Umbrella Awards 2023
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 food service sectors.
The apprentices were commended for their commitment to lifelong learning and their personal notable 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 – rather than finding a rose among thorns, it was often a case of selecting a rose among so many impressive roses. 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 were 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.
Notes to editors
About Umbrella Training
Umbrella Training is a nationwide training and apprenticeship provider for hospitality and corporate sectors, which develops tailored training programmes by working closely with businesses. Founded in 2012 by Adele Oxberry, the company works with hotels, restaurants, food service businesses, and many corporate services organisations across the UK.
Since its inception, Umbrella Training has supported the recruitment, development, and progression of more than 4,500 apprentices. Through its apprenticeship training schemes, Umbrella Training is recognised as a GOOD provider by Ofsted and is one of the leading providers for the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) in the UK. The organisation was awarded Princess Royal Training Award recognising outstanding commitment to learning and development in 2020 and 2023.
