Hospitality Action to support all Roux Scholars
Since the first ever competition, the winners of The Roux Scholarship have been able to count on the support and guidance of the Roux Family throughout their lives and careers. Now, thanks to a new partnership with UK hospitality’s benevolent charity, Hospitality Action, that support will include comprehensive wellbeing assistance through the charity’s industry-leading Employee Assistance Programme.
Every existing Roux Scholar and each new winner will have access to a raft of practical, emotional and counselling support with physical and mental health issues, financial and legal problems, dependency, bereavement, familial and relationship issues, elderly care and all the other challenges that can affect us all in our lives.
This support will extend to their partners and dependents.
Michel Roux Jr said: “My father and uncle were patrons of Hospitality Action and my cousin and I are continuing that tradition but taking it one step further. Our partnership cements our commitment to the wellbeing and future of all our scholars, at a time when it is most needed.”
Alain Roux said: “More than a competition, The Roux Scholarship is a community. In these challenging times, our shared values make Hospitality Action a natural, vital ally, offering essential wraparound support to our scholars.”
Mark Lewis, Chief Executive of Hospitality Action said: “The Roux Scholarship celebrates the best culinary talent in the world. But anyone can hit a bump in the road, no matter how talented or successful they are. Whatever the challenge, Hospitality Action is here to help people get back on their feet after a setback. Our employee assistance programme’s Total Wellbeing package is our gold-standard level of care and we’re delighted to provide the most comprehensive wellbeing care in the market to the esteemed Roux Scholars.”
Emily Roux said: “The hospitality industry is really facing a tough time. This new partnership with HA will enable our scholars and their families to navigate any tumultuous periods they face; often requiring resilience, support and self-care strategies.”
Judge and Roux Scholar André Garrett MCA said: “Becoming a Roux Scholar is becoming part of the larger culinary family. As a scholar myself and a judge of the Scholarship we have been lucky to receive such great mentorship and support from the Roux family. I have been a firm supporter of Hospitality Action for years and this new partnership is a great addition to the current and future scholars.”
Alain Roux, Michel Roux Jr, and Emily Roux are committed to holding bi-annual fundraising events for Hospitality Action, the first of which will be held at Caractère in 2026 and will be a four-course meal paired with wines from Le Gavroche cellar.
About Hospitality Action
Hospitality Action is the trade charity for the hospitality industry. Registered Charity number: 1101083.
Hospitality Action’s Employee Assistance Programme provides a wide range of practical and emotional support including a 24/7 adviceline, access to counselling services (where clinically appropriate), legal information, debt advice and parenting support.
How we help
Behind their smiles and slick service hospitality workers can fall upon hard times just like anybody else. Ours is a stressful industry, with long hours, high pressure environments and physically demanding work. Since 1837 we’ve been here for chefs, waiters, housekeepers and managers. We’ve been here for concierges, receptionists, and kitchen porters. And we’ve been here for every sommelier, bartender, catering assistant and cook throughout the UK.
The last four years have been transformational for our industry, the people who work within it and for Hospitality Action too. We were one of the first UK charities to mount an emergency response to the Covid- 19 pandemic in 2020 and we kept pace with the stop-start nature of re-opening as each wave triggered business closures and increasingly unpredictable employment patterns. Our grant-giving, advisory services and EAP provision continue to evolve to meet the ever-changing demands of the industry in the face of the cost-of-living crisis.
Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, the charity has awarded more than 15,000 hardship grants totalling over ÂŁ5 million to hospitality households across the UK, answered 38,000+ helpline calls and delivered 11,300+ counselling sessions. Whatever you do in hospitality #wevegotyou.
