BaxterStorey has announced the addition of a new Chef Partner, Ruth Hansom to support the training and mentoring of female chefs across the business.
Hansom (pictured left) will work closely with BaxterStorey’s award-winning Chef Academy to champion and inspire the next generation of women in hospitality.
After completing a three-year apprenticeship at The Ritz, trained by exec chef John Williams, Hansom went on to become the first female to win Young National Chef of the Year in 2017 and more recently reached the final of the 2020 Great British Menu.
Since joining The Princess of Shoreditch as head chef in 2021, she has achieved 3 AA rosette status, making it the only pub in London to hold the award.
On partnering with the foodservice provider, Hansom said. “I’m really excited to be working with BaxterStorey and its female chefs. Hospitality is a fantastic industry to be in with so much opportunity, collaboration is key and I hope to empower women in the business through coaching and mentoring to step out of their comfort zone to achieve their career goals, as well as encouraging more women to join the industry”.
In a commitment to drive change and break down bias, BaxterStorey will be launching a ‘women in hospitality’ network for its female culinary teams to share knowledge, inspire and motivate each other, as well as opportunities for stages at The Princess in Shoreditch.
Charlotte Becke, chef manager at BaxterStorey, said, “By having Ruth join us, we have someone who really understands the challenges of working in a male-dominated industry and how to overcome them.
'I know so many of my peers are thrilled to have the chance to work with Ruth, and the network is going to be fantastic to get to know more women in the business, there’s definitely a buzz in the air, watch this space!”
Ronan Harte, Chief Executive at BaxterStorey, added, “I’m delighted to welcome Ruth and her expertise in supporting our women chef teams to achieve their goals. Ruth is a trail blazer in our industry, a highly accomplished chef and an inspiration to many.
'Under her mentorship and guidance, we look forward to launching our ‘women in hospitality’ network, creating more opportunities for career progression and development.
'This strong partnership will not only help us build on a bright future for our female chefs but will support us in delighting our customers with great food and memorable hospitality experiences”.
Pictured with Ruth Hansom is (left to right) Leanne De’ath (head pastry chef), Charlotte Becke (chef manager), Maegan Quinto (head chef)).