May 2020

Georgia’s Story

By Georgia Wheatley

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Georgia Wheatley

Food and Beverage Service Level 2 and Level 3 

Award-winning waiter

Georgia was uncertain what she wanted to do in life until she went along to a food service taster day at University College Birmingham.

Falling in love with food and beverage service, she went on to become a rising star in her subject, completing her Dom Pérignon Champagne training at Michelin-starred Simpsons in Edgbaston and going on to work at The Ivy in Birmingham when she finished her studies.

She won a gold medal at Hotelympia while at college and then made the semi-finals of UK Young Chef Young Waiter of the Year 2019, judged by top chefs including Jason Atherton and Tom Kerridge.

If you’d told her all this back in 2016, she’d never have believed you.

“At school, I found it so difficult to sit in a classroom for hours,” said Georgia, who joined University College Birmingham’s Young Waiters Academy for 14-16 year olds on the back of the taster day.

“I then, casually, decided to go to a food service taster day at University College Birmingham and fell in love with it. I had found something I was good at and it changed my life.

“One day, I’d like to train as a teacher and show students how to cook. Give something back.”

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