Innholder Scholarships offer £182,000 funding to UK hotel industry

Up to £182,000 of funding has been made available to the UK's hotel industry following the launch of 14 Innholder Scholarships, each worth up to £13,000.

The scholarships are open to all heads of department and general managers working at hospitality venues across the country, ranging from boutique B&Bs to large city hotels.

More than 300 scholarships have already been awarded to UK hoteliers in an effort to protect the industry from inflation and staff shortages.

Successful applicants will have the opportunity to learn from industry experts about impending challenges in the sector and enhance their managerial skills.

They will also receive full accommodation and tuition during their enrolment at the General Managers Programme at Cornell University in the United States or the Talent Development Programme at Cranfield University, UK.

David Morgan-Hewitt, chair of the Master Innholders, said: "The hospitality industry continues to deal with daily challenges caused by issues by such as high vacancy levels and spiralling supplier costs. If we are to protect the hotel sector now and, in the future, we will require strong leadership to steer it through.

"The Innholder Scholarships will provide the support and guidance senior managers require to do just that, so funding such schemes is vital to safeguard the industry's future."

Since 1997, the Innholder Scholarships have been funded by the Savoy Educational Trust, the Lord Forte Foundation, the Worshipful Company of Innholders and the Master Innholders Charitable Trust.

Applications for the Innholder Scholarship will close on 21 August.