Students win mentoring from Savoy’s finest

3 July 2009

BU students being interviewed by members of Savoy Society

Four BU students have won places on a new mentoring scheme that will enable them to learn from the UK’s top hotel professionals.

Ambitious BU Hospitality Management students JJ Pollack, James Turton, Steven Driscoll and Rebecca Cupitt have successfully secured places on the competitive Savoy Society Student Mentoring Scheme.

They will now benefit from the experience and influence of members of the prestigious Savoy Society who are all prominent industry players.

Run by Springboard UK for The Savoy Society, the scheme aims to offer successful students the benefit of impartial support and guidance from a mentor for three years.

The competitive selection process included taking part in an Apprentice-style challenge at the Hilton Waldorf Hotel in London and attending a series of formal interviews.

Speaking at the assessment day, Stuart P Johnson, Chairman of the Savoy Society, said: “The students who attended were all of the highest integrity and I was quite taken by their dedication and wish to succeed within our industry.

“The Savoy Society has set up this mentoring scheme in order to “give back” to our industry, to coach and support the young, talented individuals who are entering it. Today was true evidence of the quality of those individuals that we can look forward to joining our industry in the future.”

Between interviews the students were encouraged to write about their experience in a blog. James Turton (22) commented: “Having the chance to meet, and work with, industry experts who will hopefully be able to guide us through the next few years, or more, is an unmissable opportunity.”

Rebecca Cupitt (22) added: “The Apprentice-style morning was a great team building exercise and was a good way of building confidence. Meeting the mentors was brilliant fun and I feel I have already learnt a lot from hearing about their hotels and skills.”