'Go-get' attitude sees TVU star scoop prestigious Acorn scholarship

A former Thames Valley University (TVU) student who now lectures part-time at the university has been awarded the 2010 Acorn Scholarship.

Will Torrent, who is also a pastry chef at Bachmann's Patisserie & Chocolate Creations, Thames Ditton, was awarded the Scholarship for his passion and ambition to open his own patisserie teaching business and champagne and dessert bar.  

Now in its eighth year, the purpose of the independent award is to seek out talented individuals within the catering and hospitality industry, help them to realise their ambitions and to reward their determination.

Will was awarded the Scholarship on 30 November 2009 at Michael Caines' ABode Hotel, Manchester. Will and eleven other finalists were chosen to present to a panel of prestigious judges, where the merits of each candidate were carefully deliberated. The Acorn Scholarship will give Will the opportunity to work alongside great name sin hospitality such as Michael Caines MBE and use the business prowess of industry expert James Horler to develop his skills over the next 12 months.

Presenting the award, Michael Caines MBE commented: 'Will's ambition and passion really stood out. He gave an excellent presentation and was able to identify exactly where he wants to be in five years time and how the Scholarship can help.

'At just 23, Will has already had a huge amount of success thanks to his determination and go-get attitude. We have no doubt that he is a worthy winner of the Acorn Scholarship and look forward to helping him achieve great things.'

Will teaches within the London School of Hospitality and Tourism at TVU, which recently won the Queen's Anniversary Prize for education for its excellence in the field of hospitality education and employer engagement. Head of the School, Professor David Foskett, said:

'We are thrilled to hear of Will's success in obtaining this scholarship and having a lecturer who is a former student winning a scholarship like this, only further cements us as being at the top of the league for hospitality education. We wish Will all the best in the coming 12 months as he develops his career through this amazing opportunity.'

Having a grandfather who trained and worked as a chef and a great-uncle who owned a patisserie in Paris, it came as no surprise that Will wanted to pursue a successful career in hospitality. He has won several awards, including the Craft Guild of Chefs Young Chef of the Year Award 2009 and as a student competed in the International WorldSkills Competition in Japan, mentored by Yolande Stanley MCA, where he was awarded a coveted medallion of excellence - the first for any British pastry chef.

Will commented: 'Winning the Acorn Scholarship is such an honour. I have seen what last year's winner, Simone Sylvestre, has achieved since winning and it's incredible to think that I will have the same opportunity.  I can't wait to meet with my mentors and plan the year ahead, it's like a dream come true.'

Claire Sullivan, marketing director, Unilever Foodsolutions, concludes: 'This was the first year that I have judged the Acorn Scholarship and I was amazed at the high standard of entries and the passion of these youngsters. Many are in their early 20's and it filled me with pride and confidence to know that these young professionals are aspiring for such great things in the hospitality industry. I'm sure we'll be seeing a few of them in the near future.

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