Purple Umbrella Awards 2026 Finalists Announced!
We’re delighted to announce the finalists for the Purple Umbrella Awards 2026!
A massive congratulations to all those who have been recognised. The standard of applications we received this year was incredibly high.
Best Chef Apprentice Level 2
Ben Oldham - Soho House
Charlie Knapman - Home Grown Hotels
George Chislett - The CRUMBS Project
Georgina Knatchbull - Home Grown Hotels
Jamie Brown - Beckford Group
Tariq Spalding - The Felix Project
Zac Cottle - Beckford Group
Best Chef Apprentice Level 3
Maria Memba Meseguer - Green and Fortune
Harry Lamble Thomas - The Store Oxford
Thomas Williams - Home Grown Hotels
Best Level 2 Apprentice
Veronica Hoxha - Bvlgari Hotel London
Jayne Lee - Farncombe Estate
Callum Hays - The Chancery Rosewood
Elias De Graaff - Soho House
Best Level 3 Apprentice
Brianna Penny - Beckford Group
Lamgie Yip - Corinthia London
Kelly Reynolds - Farncombe Estate
Lara Saab - Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Carson Cunningham - Luxury Family Hotels
Kateryna Bodnar - Splendid Hospitality Group
Faiza Tasnim - The Hoxton, Southwark
Viviana Buono - The Stafford London
Pedro De Sousa - The Store Oxford
Best Level 4 Apprentice
Frank Ellis - Splendid Hospitality Group
Polly Croker - Marston’s
Evelina Juralyte - Gather&Gather, CH&CO
Shamsad Chowdhury - Klarent Hospitality
Giovanni Salemi - Clermont Hotel Group
Joshua Pritchard - Luxury Family Hotels
Claudio Camacho - Loveday, Abbey Road
Mia Hughes - The QHotels Collection
Samuel Harton - The QHotels Collection
Best Level 4 Luxury Leaders Apprentice
Jonathan Ciammella - Jumeirah Carlton Tower
Samuel Milbery - The Chancery Rosewood
Alessandra Motisi - The Stafford London
Kamaldeep Singh - Clermont Hotel Group
Best Level 5 Apprentice
Harriet Ainley - The QHotels Collection
Ilinca Costache - Farncombe Estate
Joanne Thorniley - The QHotels Collection
Kathryn Law - Farncombe Estate
Louis Fouché - Clermont Hotel Group
Sally Jones - The QHotels Collection
Sylwia Umelo - Klarent Hospitality
Best Apprentice Mentor
Tom Sheppard - Home Grown Hotels
Joseph Zanaty - Luxury Family Hotels
Ursula Boardman - The CRUMBS Project
Mikel Gkounta - Klarent Hospitality
Kerry Allen - The QHotels Collection
Nick Hughes - The QHotels Collection
Best Apprentice From Another Provider
Megan Jenkins - BaxterStorey
Joanne Baggaley - BaxterStorey
Matthew Wood - Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Amy Henry - The QHotels Collection
Special Achievement Award
London’s Community Kitchen
Led by Taz Khan MBE and Suzy Jakeman, London's Community Kitchen is this year's Special Achievement Award winner. Over the last year, LCK has worked with us on our Taste of Culinary Skills Bootcamp, giving unemployed Londoners a route into sustainable hospitality careers through pre-employment support and mentoring. Not only this, but LCK continues to work tirelessly to remove hunger in London's communities. We’re delighted that they are this year’s winners.
Diamond Award
Harry Murrey MBE MI FIH
To celebrate our Diamond 10th Anniversary, we're delighted to announce Harry Murrey MBE MI FIH as our Diamond Award winner. A long-standing supporter of apprenticeships and early careers - even supporting throughout COVID. Harry has judged the Purple Umbrella Awards for all 10 years and continues to be a powerful ambassador for apprenticeships, encouraging employers and young people alike to create pathways for new talent. We’re delighted that he will be the recipient of this special award.