Barceló Shrigley Hall Hotel, Golf and Country Club’s Food and Beverage Manager, Joel Fagg, 23, was presented with a prestigious award at the hospitality industry’s young talent awards – the 2010 Acorn Scholarship – last week.

For the first time ever in the awards’ eight year history, the judges were so torn between Joel and the eventual winner they made the unique decision to award Joel with a certificate of commendation as the most worthy runner-up.

Joel, from Bollington in Cheshire, who joined Barceló UK on a foundation degree programme in 2005, was one of 12 finalists competing for the scholarship, which seeks out talented individuals in the hospitality industry and helps them to achieve their goals. The judging panel, which included Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Michael Caines, were so impressed with Joel’s enthusiasm and well thought-out presentation, that they commended him for his hard work and inspiration.

Pastry Chef Will Torrent from Bachmann’s Patisserie & Chocolate Creations was awarded the ultimate scholarship, but Joel will also be mentored by Acorn judge and Head of HR for the Thistle Hotel Group, Christian Armstrong for the next few months.

Joel commented: “I’m extremely honoured to receive this award and I’m really looking forward to being mentored by Christian. I think the judges saw a lot of potential in me and I am pleased that they were impressed with what I have achieved so far.

“One day I would love to run my own luxury hotel chain but I also want to give something back to help the community. I’d like to run workshops with young unemployed people to teach them the skills of the trade and to encourage them to be as passionate about the industry as I am.”

The Acorn Scholarship is an independent award set up by the previous winners of Caterer and Hotelkeeper Magazine’s prestigious Acorn Awards.

The Barceló Shrigley Hall Hotel, Golf and Country Club, is located on the edge of the
Peak District in Cheshire. Surrounded by 262 acres of beautiful countryside and with its own 18-hole championship golf course, the hotel offers the perfect destination for short breaks.

For more information about the Barceló Shrigley Hall Hotel, Golf and Country Club, please visit www.barcelo-hotels.co.uk.