Oliver Wright, Everton’s head of hospitality, said: “We are absolutely delighted for Gareth, he is a true professional and is committed to finding and training local young people to realise their potential, which is very important to us here at Everton.”
Chris Bray chief executive for Sodexo sports and leisure, UK and Ireland said: “This is fantastic news. Over the years Gareth has taken the time to help a number of young chefs develop their careers and is particularly skilled at spotting potential both within his own team and those he supports from local schools and colleges.
“Through his encouragement and training he has helped many achieve more than they imagined.
“He is a great asset to Sodexo and the foodservice industry as a whole and we are extremely proud of his achievements. We have our fingers firmly crossed for October when the winners will be announced.”
Billington was nominated for the Mentor of the Year based on the training and support he has given to young women in developing their careers in foodservice for more than ten years.
He is particularly known for his mentoring of young chefs through Springboard’s FutureChef initiative, which helps young people learn cookery skills and train for careers in the hospitality industry. He has mentored two of the last three FutureChef winners.
He has also developed close contact with local schools and colleges, offering demonstrations and work experience. And he takes a special interest in helping members of his team develop their careers, including helping kitchen porters who have shown an interest and aptitude for cooking.
The People 1st Shine Awards celebrate the achievements of women working in hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism, as well as the mentors, ambassadors and businesses that support gender diversity in those industries.