Hoteliers and hospitality students across the region are limbering up for the National Waiters Day Race.

The setting will be Wivenhoe House, outside Colchester, where the hotel’s staff and students from the Edge Hotel School on site are already in training for the big day on Thursday 20th October 2016.

Founded by restaurateur and ‘First Dates’ presenter Fred Sirieix, the Waiters Day Race raises money for The Springboard Charity and is held annually in Hyde Park, London, where it has celebrated front of house roles for several years. This year, on the same day, Wivenhoe House will be hosting the regional races to encourage people outside London to join in the fun.

Fred Sirieix

Money raised at both events will help Springboard’s Food and Beverage (FAB) programme in schools, which are designed to encourage school and college students to explore and consider careers in front of house, whilst aligning with the curriculum.

Sirieix said: “I am delighted that Wivenhoe House and the Edge Hotel School are picking up the baton for National Waiters Day.  It’s all about celebrating our amazing profession and raising money for a worthy charity. I am confident this prestigious regional event will be a huge success.”

Edge Hotel School student George Hiley-Jones, who won one of the races in London last year, said: “It was a brilliant experience seeing everyone taking a break from their busy working lives to race for charity. It’s a huge compliment to the School and Wivenhoe House that we are allowed to bring this event out of London.”

The 2014 race in Hyde Park, London

Oliver Brown, General Manager at Wivenhoe House, said: “Last year, the Edge Hotel School sent a successful team of hotel management undergraduates to Hyde Park for National Waiters Day and it has inspired us to launch the first ever regional event, here in East Anglia, racing across our beautiful grounds.”

He added: “It’s a fantastic opportunity to bring together all the talented people who work in front of house at hotels and restaurants across East Anglia and raise money for a very worthwhile charity. Professional teams are limbering up already and we are inviting students from hospitality-related courses to take part too.”

The hospitality and tourism sector employs 55,000 people in Essex and is worth nearly £3 billion a year. Nationally the industry directly employs 2.9 million people, and has created over 330,000 jobs since 2010.

Entry is £10 per competitor.  For more details and to register visit www.nationalwaitersday.com