Two £5,000 scholarships for young food, drink and hospitality talent are now open for applications through Oxford Cultural Collective.
Applicants are invited to propose a personal or professional development project that reflects their aspirations and has the potential to create lasting impact for the industry or wider society.
Oxford Cultural Collective places no restrictions on the type of project applicants can put forward, with the awards designed to identify individuals who have the potential to change the industry and society for the better.
The two awards are the Lou Willcock Scholarship, which recognises hospitality creativity, and the Golden Chopsticks Scholarship, the first award of its kind dedicated to East and Southeast Asian food and hospitality.
The scholarships celebrate talent from across restaurants, hotels, foodservice and suppliers to the sector.
Winners will receive a year of professional mentoring alongside the £5,000 grant and will join a growing community of Oxford Cultural Collective scholarship changemakers.
Ben McEwen, chair of Oxford Cultural Collective’s charitable trust, said: “We are proud to offer substantial financial grants and comprehensive mentoring as part of our awards. Over time we aim to create a community of highly talented scholarship winners, who will be the changemakers of the future.”
For chef, broadcaster and Oxford Cultural Collective Patron Andi Oliver, the community created around the scholarships is central to their value.
She said: “When you create a community, it gives you the confidence and strength to reach for your ambitions, your goals and to reach for the stars, which is what we all want.”
Previous scholarship winner Jack Feeny, chef and founder of Tomorrow’s Kitchen, said: “It completely changed my life. The whole process has laid the foundation for the work we are now doing. For those with great ideas they believe could help change our industry, I would really recommend applying.”
Applications close on 21 August 2026, with winners due to be announced in late September.
The scholarships are supported by a grant from the Savoy Educational Trust and donations from supporters including The Russell Partnership and Robin Sheppard.