The Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland’s will organise an Emerging Talent Conference on the 11 February 2009 at Glasgow’s Old Fruitmarket.

HIT Scotland will award more than 100 scholarships during the event, targeting promising workers and students with the aim of bringing together the rising stars with industry leaders.

Industry leaders making speeches at the event include Guy Crawford, chief executive officer of Jumeirah Group; Charan Gill MBE, Glasgow's ‘Curry King' and Mick Jackson, leader of the Wildhearts Foundation, an entrepreneur and philanthropist.

The 100 emerging talent scholarships will be awarded to workers and final year students in Scotland’s tourism, travel, leisure, hospitality and catering industries.

David Cochrane, Chief Executive of HIT Scotland, said, “The emerging talent conference pays tribute to the aptitude and dedication of people working in an often underrated profession.

"Hospitality is an important part of the economy. By awarding scholarships, we hope to raise aspirations across the industry and create a self-sustaining culture of improvement, driving up-standards to help Scotland compete in the worldwide tourism market."