Emerging hospitality leaders awarded Tranche scholarships

With the hospitality industry in Australia suffering from a severe shortage of talent, the Hill-Smith family's Tranche Scholarship recognises some of the brightest and best in the industry. 

Lily Lapper, restaurant manager of Merivale’s Sydney venue Mr Wong and Sam Bray, head chef at Manky Sally’s, the Hobart taphouse of Moo Brew, were this week named the winners of the scholarships. 

Over 130 applications were received from many sectors of the wine and hospitality industries, with seven finalists interviewed. 

The Tranche panel was so impressed by the calibre of finalists, it was decided to award two scholarships.

Tranche, the brainchild of Michael Hill-Smith MW and his daughter Mathilda, said in a statement: "Both Lily and Sam had a clear understanding of their future and the future of the hospitality industry. 

"Both winners had a focused plan for how they would use the Tranche funds - who they wanted to visit and why, and how it would be of benefit to the industry."

Lapper (right) was previously restaurant manager at two-hatted Laura on the Mornington Peninsula and has also worked at the Carlton Wine Room. 

Her scholarship-funded trip will focus on further developing her leadership skills, visiting businesses that have a strong reputation for prioritising their team's wellbeing and hospitality tenure, while maintaining a profitable business.

Regular readers of Gourmet on the Road will be familiar with Bray (below), who has staged at world-renowned Noma, and worked in some high-profile kitchens before putting down roots in Tasmania. 

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After originally working at MONA, he now head chef at Manky Sally’s in Hobart, which is on a path to becoming a zero-waste kitchen. 

Bray recently undertook the WSET Level 2 as well as an applied science certificate at the University of Tasmania to build his knowledge on fermentation to upcycle by-products from the hospitality, wine and brewing industries. 

He plans to visit pioneering zero waste and sustainably-minded restaurants and volunteer at not-for-profit ‘Food for Soul’ founded by Massimo Bottura.

“Lily and Sam are impressive and inspiring," says Tranche chair Michael Hill-Smith. 

"Both these emerging leaders have a keen sense of how they can improve the status quo in terms of work conditions and sustainability within the restaurant sector.”

The annual scholarship of $15,000 is awarded to emerging leaders in the Australian wine and hospitality industries to enable them to expand their horizons.

Scholarship opportunity for wine industry operatives

Shaw + Smith and Tolpuddle co-founder Michael Hill-Smith and his family have launched a new scholarship to help support emerging talent in the Australian wine and hospitality industry.

The annual Tranche Scholarship will help individuals develop their professional careers by providing international and domestic travel opportunities within the industries.

The Tranche Scholarship is led by Master of Wine Hill-Smith as chairman, and his daughter Mathilda Hill-Smith as director.

The scholarship will have a national reach, with some of Australia's best wine and hospitality talent acting as state advisors, including Leanne Altmann, Erin Larkin, Amanda Yallop, Pip Anderson and Nick Stock. 

Applications will open via the Tranche website from July 1 and close on July 28. 

"We are thrilled to launch the Tranche Scholarship," said Mathilda Hill-Smith. 

"We are looking for bright, enthusiastic and talented applicants with a clear vision for their future. Age is not a barrier, although it is intended for those in the earlier stages of their career."

Michael Hill-Smith in 1988 became the first Australian to pass the Master of Wine examination. Michael is co-founder of Shaw + Smith, Tolpuddle Vineyard and MMAD Vineyard and has long been a champion of Australian fine wine. 

Mathilda Hill-Smith has worked in communications for Domaine Clarence Dillon, Château de Santenay, and two-Michelin starred Le Clarence in Paris, as well as a brand manager for Berry Bros. & Rudd in London. 

See www.tranchescholarship.com.au