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Apex Hotels scholarship supports top students

A leading hotel group and a university have joined forces to help bolster career opportunities for hospitality and events students.

The move aims to create a new generation of hospitality leaders who can transform Scotland’s hospitality industry so that it is a key player on the world stage.

Apex Hotels and Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh (QMU) have launched a scholarship programme which will see students gain significant work experience in the hospitality industry. Successful students will also be rewarded with a bursary to help fund their studies. An additional award in the name of the Apex Hotel’s founder, Norman Springford, will provide financial reward for a top student for postgraduate studies and help secure employment with the leading hotel group. 

The new scholarship programme will support two students from hospitality and tourism or event management during their final year of university study, and will provide each with paid work experience with Apex Hotels. The students will gain hands on experience across all areas of the business, and will conduct a research project which will aim to find solutions to internal organisational problems.

Professor Joe Goldblatt, Development Executive at Queen Margaret University, said: “We are delighted that Apex Hotels is investing in student learning and working with QMU to develop strong managers who can contribute significantly to Scotland’s important hospitality and tourism industry. The combination of talented students who have both solid work experience with a leading hotel organisation, and excellent academic knowledge, will help to create future managers who can raise industry standards.”

The Professor continued: “Aside from this scholarship, the Springford family has made a generous donation which will see one or both of the scholarship students presented with the Norman Springford Scholar Award. The top student will also be offered a full-time position with Apex Hotels whilst completing their postgraduate education at QMU.”

Norman Springford said: “The Hospitality industry is a key growth area within Scotland and critical to the Scottish economy. We therefore need to equip a young workforce with the right skills and attitude to continue improving and transforming Scotland’s hospitality and tourism industry. By joining forces to support and reward talented young students, who are passionate about the industry, we can ensure that Scotland is viewed as a leading hospitality destination both by a home audience and internationally.”