Scottish catering and hospitality news in Scotland

Hospitality and leisure industry manager Paul Dukes has been elected Chairman of the British Association of Hospitality Accountants (BAHA)from 2008 until 2010 at its AGM in London.
Paul has taken over the chairmanship of BAHA from Martyn Levitt, Finance Director of London-based Seafood Holdings, who has held office for the last four years.
'Paul Dukes brings a vast wealth of knowledge and experience to BAHA as one of the hospitality and leisure industry's most respected professionals in the field of finance and management,' says BAHA Chief Executive Carl Weldon.

Currently, Paul continues to maintain a direct foothold in the hospitality and leisure sector and is a non-executive director of several leisure-related companies.

The semi-finalists of the Scottish Food Scholarship 2008 were announced today for the Edinburgh cook-offs to be held at Edinburgh's Telford College. This will be the last of the semi-finals and will take place on Monday 4th February, culminating in a final in Edinburgh on Monday 3rd March.

The semi-finalists are:

Graeme Anderson from The Inn at Lathones, St Andrews

Duncan Campbell from The Lime Tree An Ealdhain, Fort William

Ross Cochrane from Howies Restaurant, Aberdeen

Andrew Field from Old Course Hotel, St Andrews

Gregory Johnston from Eurest, Dundee

Zara McDougall from Inverlodge Hotel, Sutherland

James McMahon from Dornoch Castle Hotel, Sutherland


Edinburgh Inspiring Cuisine, a body established by the City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh & Lothian to promote Edinburgh's restaurants and local food and drink producers, is the principal sponsor of the SFS.

Inaugurated in 2006, the Scottish Food Scholarship is a national competition open to young chefs aged 18-25 years. The winner carries out a series of internships, working with some of the best in the food and catering world, including an internship with Martin Wishart at his eponymous Restaurant Martin Wishart and Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles.

A supposed government crackdown targeting hotels which flout the national minimum wage has seen fewer than 30 employers visited in the first six months of the year-long campaign that aims to target up to 500.

According to figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request, HM Revenue and Customs has visited just 27 employers since launch on 1 July 2007, while the main enforcement activity of the minimum wage payment crackdown did not commence until December. HMRC said that in 2008, 'resources permitting', a further 500 employers would be visited.

'We believe that a robust inspection regime could be very effective in addressing non-payment of minimum wage but at present it's hard to see why vulnerable workers in the industry should have much faith in the Government's commitment to strong enforcement,' says Catherine Howarth, lead organiser.

The Scottish Tourism Forum (STF) has announced details of this year's Scottish Tourism Week which will take place throughout Scotland from the 4th-11th March 2008. The week is aimed at raising the awareness of tourism as Scotland's most sustainable industry.
Scottish Tourism Week, which was initiated by the Scottish Tourism Forum in 2006, connects on a business-to-business level and encourages politicians to engage with tourism businesses in order to better understand the issues of concern to those working in tourism.
'Scottish Tourism Week will bring the private, public and elected sector together under one positive agenda, that is, how we can work together to drive forward tourism across Scotland,' says Iain Herbert, STF Chief Executive.
'We are determined to build on the success of previous Scottish Tourism Weeks in order to create a positive political climate for growth in tourism, which will in turn support and attract greater levels of private investment.'

A focal event is Scotland United, the Scottish tourism industry conference. Jim Mather, Minister of Enterprise, Energy and Tourism, will open the conference on Wednesday 5th March at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh.
Other highlights of STW include a Parliamentary Reception at Holyrood, and an industry dinner at Glasgow Science Centre on 6th March, where guests will be addressed by John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth.

The week also includes a range of useful business-focussed events, including familiarisation visits at Forestry Commission Scotland forest parks, a Futures Lecture by VisitScotland's scenario planner Professor Ian Yeoman on hotel revenue management, an e-tourism workshop by Highlands Business Research in Aviemore, a sustainable tourism event supported by HIE in Fort Augustus and Scottish Enterprise's Tourism Customer Service Conference in Glasgow.

STF will also launch an exciting new online project during Scottish Tourism Week, which will encourage MSPs to engage with tourism businesses in their local area. Details of this initiative will be announced shortly.

Visit www.stforum.co.uk/scottishtourismweek/index.aspx for more information.

The Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland's annual Emerging Talent Conference takes place at the Edinburgh International Climbing Centre in Ratho on 7th February.
The conference will award over two hundred Emerging Talent Scholarships to selected industry employees and hospitality and catering students from across Scotland. The
scholarships offer the opportunity to develop managerial and operational skills and training in hospitality and catering, in various destinations from the Walt Disney Institute in Florida to the 6-star Jumeirah Beach Resort in Dubai, as well as closer to home.

'The scholarships are awarded to those seeking to make a significant difference to the future of Scottish Hospitality, and offer a unique opportunity to experience the very best,' says David Cochrane, Chief Executive of HIT Scotland. 'They recognise the need to continually update skills within the industry, encourage personal development and bring fresh thinking to Scotland, in order to remain at the forefront of international innovations. 'We had a record number of entries this year with an unprecedented 360 applicants.'

This year for the first time, the James Sankey Award for Excellence in Service will be awarded in memory of the co-founder of Oloroso.

For more information and to book tickets, visit www.hitscotland.org.uk

Farmhouse Breakfast Week 2008 campaign, organised by the Home-Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA)aims to link the food chain, from farmers to producers, in support of breakfast.
Around the country, farmers and farmers' markets, producers and cafes, schools and businesses are organising over 1,500 breakfast events. Supporting organisations include Food from Britain and the Regional Food Groups,

'Farmhouse Breakfast Week demonstrates the value of the food chain working together,' says Jonathan Cowens, HGCA's Chief Executive. 'It provides an excellent opportunity for the whole industry to remind consumers about the choice of breakfast foods produced around the country. From porridge, cereal and breads, to bacon and sausages, the campaign demonstrates provenance throughout the food chain, and encourages us all to start the day with breakfast.'

Visit www.farmhousebreakfast.com for more information.

The Tullibardine Restaurant at Blair Castle and The Victorian Kitchen at Glamis Castle have achieved EatScotland approval for excellence in food and high standards in service.

Managed by Prestige Scotland, the restaurants were awarded recognition in the food quality assurance scheme which assess the presentation, quality and service of food in every kind of eating establishment in Scotland and warrants those that meet the correct standards with the EatScotland logo of approval.

'EatScotland recognition really underlines our reputation for delivering fine food, excellent ingredients and service of an outstanding quality,' saysAlyson Cawley, Managing Director of Prestige Scotland.

An £80m master plan developed by Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort (MAHR) was given outline approval subject to conditions. It is expected the move will bring in excess of 500 jobs to the area over the next few years.

The announcement paves the way for the second phase of the Resort, which has already benefited from a £50m boost over the last 10 years. The plans were approved at a meeting by the Cairngorm National Park Authority and will result in a mix of commercial, retail, housing and leisure.

Donald Macdonald, Chairman of MAHR, said: 'This is great news for the Highlands. The future success of Aviemore will feed through to other parts of the Highland region helping to attract visitors and bring lasting prosperity to one of Scotland's most attractive destinations.

'More housing, commercial and retail developments will complement the growing leisure facilities which will benefit both local people and tourists alike. The need to balance the interests of the economy with our natural environment is a tough challenge, but with goodwill and the support of the local community, I believe we can achieve a positive result.'

The masterplan includes provision for a three-acre public park and car parking off Grampian Road, a 45,000 sq ft supermarket, office space, an increase in retail space of approximately 90,000 square feet and the potential for an ice rink, ice arena and climbing wall.

As the investment and development progresses, MAHR has pledged to encourage further public consultation on specific details such as design.

Donald continued: 'Progress made to date is in large part due to the unstinting support of Bank of Scotland. Without their input a project of this size and importance would not work.

'There is a growing appetite to make a success of this development, and a recognition that the competition in the tourism market is getting stronger, and demands a product of the highest quality that can compete on the world stage.'


Andy Seaton, Director of Corporate Banking, Bank of Scotland, said: 'We are pleased at the award of the planning consent which secures the future of the Resort.'