The bespoke programme of experiences gives winners an incredible opportunity to develop their careers.
Winning The Roux Scholarship is the start of an extraordinary journey. Our star prize is an investment in your future: a bespoke training programme, worth up to £12,000, tailored to your career ambitions, aspirations and the areas in which you want to grow. No two prizes are ever the same because every programme is designed specifically for the individual chef.
The winner will work with the Roux Family and the Roux Scholarship team to choose a restaurant anywhere in the world for a training stage, lasting between three weeks and three months. The restaurant is chosen for the learning experience it offers, rather than simply its Michelin stars or location. Whether in Europe, Asia, the Americas or beyond, the objective is to find the environment that will inspire, challenge and elevate the winner’s skills. All travel, accommodation and insurance are included. Each trip is subject to visa and permission being granted.
Yet the career and personal development continues long after the training stage has ended.
In addition, the winner will choose up to five additional educational experiences, visits and stays in the UK designed to broaden their knowledge and strengthen every aspect of their career. These experiences might include baking, chocolate-making, cheese production, fermentation, curing, butchery, charcuterie, wine, spirits or artisan food production.
Aside from purely culinary experiences, chefs may also choose experiences that develop the wider skills every modern chef needs to succeed, including business management, finance, leadership, languages, social media, marketing or professional qualifications such as WSET wine and spirit qualifications.
These learning opportunities are arranged around the winner’s professional commitments, they must take place in the UK and be completed within 14 months of winning.
If you can offer our new Roux Scholars a learning experience, please contact us.
The opportunities available to a Roux scholar do not end at the Star Prize. Every Roux Scholar becomes part of a unique community that continues to learn together throughout their career. Every two years, all scholars are invited to join an educational overseas trip, visiting some of the world’s most exciting culinary destinations, meeting internationally renowned chefs, producers and artisans, and experiencing food cultures first hand. Previous destinations have included New York, California, Dubai and Mexico, creating unforgettable experiences, lifelong friendships and invaluable professional connections.
The winner will receive £6,000 to spend on career development and educational opportunities. This could include meals at restaurants they’ve always been inspired by, it could be short training courses or it could be a trip to a region abroad that has a fascinating food culture and interesting producers.
The five other national finalists each receive £1,000 intended for similar experiences.
An additional £6,000 will be awarded to the winner on completion of 15 months’ service with their employer following their win. The aim is to encourage the scholar to share with their brigade the new experiences, ideas and skills learned during their two-month stage in a three-Michelin star restaurant. Should they wish to leave their job within 15 months of winning, the £6,000 will be awarded to their employer to support the brigade’s development in other ways. Terms and conditions apply**.
All winners of the competition go on to enjoy a lifetime of support from The Roux Family and the family of Roux Scholars, a unique network of chefs and former chefs who are on hand to offer support, advice and comradeship to one another. This includes an invitation to the award ceremonies for subsequent competitions, and other special events. It also includes an invitation to take part in the Scholarship educational trips and other special trips, courtesy of our sponsors.
In addition, they will be signed up to receive the Total Wellbeing support package from Hospitality Action, which gives every Roux Scholar, and their immediate family, support for their mental health, financial and legal advice and many other benefits.
*Stage placement
Placement at the international restaurant for the main stage depends on the chosen restaurant and other factors. International stages are subject to visa approval for the country in question and the venue’s agreement to host.
**The Mentorship Award
The Mentorship Award is provided at the complete discretion of the Board of Directors and will typically be granted automatically at the end of the 15 month period. However the Award will be reviewed if:
1. The conduct of the Roux Scholarship winner during the 15 month period from the date of the final could damage the reputation of the Competition or the Employer.
2. The employment did not extend for the full 15 months but this was not the fault or responsibility of the Roux Scholarship winner.
3. The nature of the employment did not allow the Roux Scholarship winner to mentor the same single team for the entire duration of the 15 month period.
