The Master Innholders has opened applications for the annual GM of the Future Neil Bannister Scholarship, offering one UK hotel professional a fully funded 12-month leadership development programme at Cranfield University.
What the scholarship offers
The successful candidate will join the Talent Development Programme, a year-long initiative focused on professional development, leadership skills, and personal growth. Participants develop capabilities including strategic thinking, commercial awareness, decision-making, and communication while building greater confidence and self-awareness as leaders.
The programme is designed to accommodate working professionals. Students can complete the requirements while continuing in their current roles, removing a significant barrier for those who cannot afford to step away from employment to pursue development opportunities.
The scholarship is valued at over £15,000. A runner-up prize is also available: a place on Cranfield University’s Impact and Influence programme alongside six 90-minute executive coaching sessions.
Who can apply
Applicants should be working towards their first general manager role or be in the early stages of their leadership journey, typically as middle or senior managers within the hospitality sector. The programme targets professionals who demonstrate potential but need structured development to reach senior leadership positions.
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Zoe Jenkins, incoming chair of The Master Innholders, said the industry has no shortage of talented people with the potential to become brilliant general managers. “The challenge is making sure they have access to the development, support and opportunities they need to get there,” she said.
Jenkins noted that hospitality professionals are often expected to learn leadership simply by stepping into increasingly senior roles. “But being a great operator and being a great leader require different skills, and those skills need to be developed,” she said. “The GM of the Future, the Neil Bannister Scholarship helps to bridge that all important gap, giving an emerging leader the opportunity to step back, learn, challenge themselves and prepare for what comes next.”
Application process and timeline
Candidates must complete an application form, including an endorsement from their line manager. The deadline for submissions is 30 September 2026.
A shortlist will be selected by a judging panel made up of Master Innholders and other industry figures. Those shortlisted will receive a complimentary ticket to the 2027 Hotel Leadership Conference, taking place on 11-12 January at JW Marriott Grosvenor House London. The black-tie dinner on the first evening will serve as the venue for announcing the winner and runner-up.
Programme history
The scholarship was previously known as the GM of the Future Award. It was renamed to the Neil Bannister Scholarship in 2025 to honor the late Neil Bannister, a hotelier and Master Innholder who was a longtime advocate for supporting and developing emerging talent in the hospitality industry.
