James Pike, Green & Fortune’s General Manager at Sea Containers House was declared the overall winner of the 2018 ACE Robyns Award, which is sponsored by Troika.
The awards ceremony took place at the ACE annual summer party held on board Sodexo’s Bateaux London in front of over 200 hospitality guests who enjoyed an evening cruise down the Thames, coincidentally passing by James' workplace on the way.
James oversees a number of buzzing cafés, bars and staff restaurants at Green & Fortune’s Sea Containers site on the South Bank, as well as Events which boasts six events spaces and a capacity of up to 600. James says:
"I’m passionate about progressing in this fantastic and diverse industry, I have been fortunate enough to have been afforded some great professional opportunities and also enjoyed several amazing experiences. I received some great simple advice from my Grandad which I hope will continue to serve me well ‘whatever you are doing, do it well and good things will follow’.”
In second place was Florence McFarlane from Genuine Dining Co., Catrin Aherne from The Clink took third place and Amelia Heminway from BaxterStorey was highly commended.
Tim Jones, Joint Founder of CH&Co with his late wife Robyn, was one of the judges and said:
“I would like to congratulate all of the entrants. We thought last year’s entries were good but they were even higher this year and we had great difficulty drawing up a shortlist as many were particularly inspiring, demonstrating the drive and initiative that Robyn was well-known for. The judges had to make some difficult choices, but I know that Robyn would have been very pleased with the winner and the success of the awards.”
James will receive an overnight stay, including dinner, breakfast, and 2 spa treatments in the NED Hotel, London; the Robyns Trophy and lifetime membership of ACE. The second and third entrants will be invited to join ACE members at their prestigious charity dinner in 2019.
Gaye Bullard, Chair of ACE said:
“The ACE Robyns is now in its third year and we have started an alumni with two events a year to help emerging leaders in the industry foster their career path. We have also invited previous ACE Robyns finalists to join the ACE Council to keep that talent involved in the future of ACE..”
The judges were Gaye Bullard, Chair of ACE; Tim Jones, Founder, CH&Co.; Suzie Boyd, Director, Troika; Norman Deas, Director, GSS; Paul Hurren, Immediate Past Chair of ACE; Jo Harley, Managing Director, Purple Cubed; chaired by Vic Laws, MBE.
The ACE Robyns Award 2018 is sponsored by Troika, a recruitment company specialising in senior managerial, director and board level appointments across the hospitality industry delivering assignments for clients within contract catering, hotels, venues, branded restaurants , fine dining and emerging concepts.
Finalists
Catrin Aherne, The Clink
Rebecca Armstrong, Genuine Dining Co.
David Booth, Restaurant Associates
Rob Burden, CH&Co.
Liam Hatcher, CH&Co.
Amelia Heminway, BaxterStorey
Florence MacFarlane, Genuine Dining Co.
Marianne Philippou, BaxterStorey
James Pike, Green & Fortune
Hannah Robson, CH&Co.
Adam Thomason, Restaurant Associates
Ben Wilson, Genuine Dining Co.
Thank you to all our sponsors
4 Deg C, British Premium Meats, CH&Co, Davin Foods, DDC Foods Ltd, ISS, Jascots, Jongor Hire, M Restaurants, M&J , Nix and Kix, Peyton and Byrne, Pipers Crisp Co, Portico Flowers, Sodexo, Troika, Vegetarian Express, Well Dressed Tables, Zuidam
About the ACE Robyns
The ACE Robyns Award was created in 2016 in memory of Robyn Jones OBE, founder of CH&Co, long-term ACE Patron, and well-known and respected champion of mentoring, training and developing young hospitality talent. The award upholds her legacy and spotlights the next generation of industry talent. Open to those under the age of 35 from across the diverse range of contract catering roles it recognises those excelling in foodservice and going the extra mile for their clients and teams alike.
