The Gold Service Scholarship has announced the semi-finalists who will go on to compete in the next stage of assessments in the competition.

Now in its fifth year, 60 successful candidates attended the Quarter Final on Monday, November 7, 2016 at the Hotel Café Royal in London, 27 were then selected to go on to compete in the semi-finals at the Rosewood Hotel on Monday, November 28, 2016.

Edward Griffiths, Chair of the Gold Service Schlarship Judges said: “The quality of candidates has been absolutely amazing, and it was difficult to select just 27 to proceed to the Semi Finals.

“The first sessions were very exciting indeed, with a record number of confident candidates from throughout the country. It was encouraging to see such passion for the industry.”

>>> Read about last year's winner here

The Queen, who is a patron of the scholarship, presented the 2016 awards at a glitzy awards ceremony held at Claridge’s.

The competition not only rewards service excellence, but also celebrates the vital role that service plays in the broad hospitality sector.

The semi-finalists include:

Julien Arribillaga - Chef-de-Rang, Fera, Claridges, London

Stephanie Beresforde - Assistant Restaurant Manager, The Seafood Restaurant, Padstow, Cornwall

Ashley Best - Food & Beverage Management Trainee, The Ritz, London

Lee Brunt - Restaurant Manager, Lough Erne Resort, Enniskillen, NI

Alexandra-Iulia Caciuc - Head Waitress, 45 Jermyn Street at Fortnum & Mason, London

Rhianna Chilton - Assistant Restaurant Manager, Rafters Restaurant, Sheffield

Laudy Gibba-Smith - Chef-de-Rang, L'Enclume, Cartmel, Cumbria

Helen Graham - Senior Footman, The Royal Household, Buckingham Palace, London

Morag Hamilton - Caterer, RAF Waddington, Lincoln

Alan Hynes - Food & Beverage Supervisor, The Dorchester, London

Flora John - Hospitality and Events Supervisor, Restaurant Associates, London

Giuseppe Laboragine - Assistant Restaurant Manager, Pétrus, London

Manuel Marchetti - Assistant Maître d'Hôtel, The Waterside Inn, Bray, Berkshire

George McGettigan - Junior Floor Manager, CUT at 45 Park Lane, London

Adam Musgrave - Chef de Rang, Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, Fortnum & Mason, London

Tom Noller - Assistant Restaurant Manager, Merchants Tavern, London

Luis Oliveira Santos - Restaurant Supervisor, Rosewood London, London

Paula Sobusiak - Restaurant Supervisor, Outlaw's at The Capital Hotel, London

Alexandra Spatar - Restaurant Supervisor, The Woodspeen Restaurant & Cookery School, Newbury, Berkshire

Alan Tang - Assistant Restaurant Manager, Hotel Café Royal, London

Nina Thomsen - Junior Sommelier, L'Enclume, Cartmel, Cumbria

Aurelien Torresan - Maître d'Hôtel Junior, Le Gavroche, London

Reka Varga - Head Waitress, Fenchurch Restaurant, Sky Garden, London

David Daniel Wallace - Floor Manager, Holborn Dining Room, Rosewood, London

Thomas Wickens - Supervisor, The Collins Room, The Berkeley, London

Nicholas Winfield - Assistant Head Waiter, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, Great Milton, Oxon

William Yarney - Restaurant Manager, The Woodford, London