Santner will now receive a year of expert mentoring from industry greats such as Diego Masciaga at The Waterside Inn and Silvano Giraldin, director of Le Gavroche. She will also have the opportunity to work with the Royal Household at a state occasion, visit the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group in Europe, attend the Mondriaan Hotel School at The Hague, Netherlands and visit the vineyards of Champagne to enhance her skills in all aspects of front of house service and customer experience.
She said: “I am thrilled to have been chosen as the Scholar for 2016. I have enjoyed every moment of this competition and cannot wait to start planning my Scholarship programme.
“I am sure that the next year will be a fantastic learning experience. I am looking forward to working alongside senior industry professionals in so many renowned venues and establishments and making the most of this opportunity.”
Santner competed alongside seven other national finalists at The Connaught, Mayfair earlier this month, to secure the sought-after title. The final service challenge consisted of planning, preparing and serving a three course lunch, including Champagne and wines, to a table of four industry professionals.
Judges of the Scholarship also gave credit and special recognition to three other national finalists, including Stephanie Beresforde, Scotts Restaurant, London as One to Watch; James Parums, Buckingham Palace as the Most Developed through the competition; and Christoph Schrottenbaum, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, In Recognition of his Developing Service Skills.
Each will receive a structured development programme with mentoring, in addition to the development programme being extended to all this year's national finalists.
The full list of this year’s national finalists was:
- Sophia Warland, RAF Odiham, Hampshire
- Christoph Schrottenbaum, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, London
- Tom Noller, Sexy Fish, London
- Stephanie Beresforde, Scott’s Restaurant, London
- James Parums, Buckingham Palace, London
- Jennifer Santner, Fenchurch Restaurant at Sky Garden, London
- Innes Haywood, L’Enclume, Cumbria
- Charlie Lee, Fera at Claridge’s, London
