Hospitality Industry Trust Scotland

We understand the need for our students to be work-ready and to achieve this we ensure we have strong links with employers in the hospitality sector.

Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland is a unique charity for the hospitality industry in Scotland, encouraging the development of anyone working or studying in the sector.  Led and supported by the same industry it serves, HIT Scotland offers opportunities to broaden skills and grow personally through their inspirational scholarship programme. At UHI Perth, we work closely with HIT Scotland for the Andrew Fairlie Scholarship skills test final. Contestants face a series of technical challenges to test their skills in the UHI Perth kitchens, with the winner being announced later that day at the Gleneagles Hotel. 

Widely recognised as the greatest scholarship for aspiring chefs in Scotland, the Andrew Fairlie Scholarship is an exceptional educational opportunity for professionals seeking first-hand experience within some of the world's most acclaimed culinary establishments. Now in its fifth year, the award seeks to carry on the legacy of Andrew Fairlie and his commitment to nurturing culinary talent in Scotland.

HIT Scotland Chief Executive, David Cochrane MBE, said:  "We're delighted to continue to partner with UHI Perth for our Andrew Fairlie Scholarship Final skills test. Having the professional cookery students on hand to help the finalists makes the day flow beautifully, and it's a great experience for the students to see how a competition like this happens and what the finalists cook.  We hope that this motivates them for their own career as a chef, and inspires them to perhaps enter the competition one day! And the addition of having some of the college's hospitality students helping with front of house gives a real professional feel, we hope they all enjoy the buzz from this competition."

Andrew Clark, 32, was awarded the much-coveted industry Scholarship, impressing the panel of judges with his technical skill, professionalism and interpretation of the brief.

Andrew was up against four other finalists and they had to cook and serve a seasonal sharing dish for four using a short saddle of Scotch lamb, spinach garnish, creamed polenta and sauce – the dish they had created for their scholarship application. 

Andrew delighted the judges with technical ability, positive energy and flavourful dishes, and was crowned winner of the scholarship in an afternoon ceremony held at Gleneagles.