The Roux Scholarship partners with Hospitality Action to support the Roux Scholars
July 30, 2025 | Author Jeremy Gibson
Since the first ever competition, the winners of The Roux Scholarship have been able to count on the support and guidance of the Roux Family throughout their lives and careers. Now, thanks to a new partnership with UK hospitality’s benevolent charity, Hospitality Action, that support will include comprehensive wellbeing assistance through the charity’s industry-leading Employee Assistance Programme.
Every existing Roux Scholar and each new winner will have access to a raft of practical, emotional and counselling support with physical and mental health issues, financial and legal problems, dependency, bereavement, familial and relationship issues, elderly care and all the other challenges that can affect us all in our lives.
This support will extend to their partners and dependents.
Michel Roux Jr said: “My father and uncle were patrons of Hospitality Action and my cousin and I are continuing that tradition but taking it one step further. Our partnership cements our commitment to the wellbeing and future of all our scholars, at a time when it is most needed.”
Alain Roux said: “More than a competition, The Roux Scholarship is a community. In these challenging times, our shared values make Hospitality Action a natural, vital ally, offering essential wraparound support to our scholars.”
Mark Lewis, Chief Executive of Hospitality Action said: “The Roux Scholarship celebrates the best culinary talent in the world. But anyone can hit a bump in the road, no matter how talented or successful they are. Whatever the challenge, Hospitality Action is here to help people get back on their feet after a setback. Our employee assistance programme’s Total Wellbeing package is our gold-standard level of care and we’re delighted to provide the most comprehensive wellbeing care in the market to the esteemed Roux Scholars.”
Emily Roux said: “The hospitality industry is really facing a tough time. This new partnership with HA will enable our scholars and their families to navigate any tumultuous periods they face; often requiring resilience, support and self-care strategies.” Judge and Roux Scholar
André Garrett MCA said: “Becoming a Roux Scholar is becoming part of the larger culinary family. As a scholar myself and a judge of the Scholarship, I have been lucky to receive such great mentorship and support from the Roux family. I have been a firm supporter of Hospitality Action for years and this new partnership is a great addition to the current and future scholars.”
Fundraising:
Alain Roux, Michel Roux Jr, and Emily Roux are committed to holding bi-annual fundraising events for Hospitality Action, the first of which will be held at Caractère in 2026 and will be a four-course meal paired with wines from Le Gavroche cellar.
Find out more about our EAP:
For hospitality businesses that truly care, our industry-specific wellbeing products provide comprehensive, round-the-clock support tailored to your team’s needs. Built on clinical excellence, they provide immediate access to expert care, to help employees thrive at work and beyond—without gaps or delays. With no shareholders to satisfy, our sole focus is to deliver the best possible service for the lowest price to improve the wellbeing of your team and the wider hospitality community.
Contact us to find out more.
About the Roux Scholarship:
Michel Roux OBE founded The Roux Scholarship with his brother Albert to enable a new generation of chefs from Britain to train in the greatest restaurants in the world and the first ever competition took place in 1984. Not only has it become the industry’s most acclaimed chef competition in the UK with many scholars having gone on to win Michelin stars themselves, it ranks among the most prestigious competitions for chefs in the world.
This year, Roux Scholar 2011 Mark Birchall’s Restaurant Moor Hall, Aughton, West Lancashire, received Three Michelin Stars, making him the first Scholar to achieve this accolade.
Since it was established, The Roux Scholarship has helped British chefs gain the international recognition they deserve. With many young chefs entering the competition each year, it is true to say thousands have been inspired and lives changed by the experience of competing.