Students from Westminster College
Jason Atherton talks with us about his experience with the PM Trust in the first weeks of his career as well as advice for any young chef aspiring to get to the top.
What we do
The PM Trust is an independent, grant making charitable incorporated organisation that provides financial assistance to young people between the ages of 16yrs to 24yrs old.
The main purpose of the Trust is to make hospitality the career of choice for young people and help them to further their training and development within the hospitality industry.
Over the years The PM Trust has established close ties with most of the Colleges and Universities in the Greater London area. We welcome applications from head of departments on behalf of students.
In order for an individual to be eligible for a grant from The PM Trust they should be studying for a hospitality related course at a college or university within the UK that will lead to an accredited qualification. The grant may be used to help pay for course fees, uniform, equipment or study materials that may be a requirement of the course.
The PM Trust provides sponsorship for select hospitality related competitions and awards. Previously this has included the Springboard Kickstart Star of the Future Award and The Acorn Scholarship
The PM Trust does consider applications from other charitable organisations who’s aims and objectives are closely aligned to those of The PM Trust.
This award is dedicated to the late Robyn Jones OBE a former trustee of the Trust and a great advocate of the hospitality industry and especially supporting the next generation of hospitality professionals. It is awarded to any currently employed alumnus of Springboards Kickstart programme, that demonstrates outstanding potential within the hospitality industry.
“If it wasn’t for Springboard’s KickStart Programme supported by The PM Trust I would still be in my room playing computer games and doing nothing with my life.”
Alumni Jason Atherton
“I stayed at The PM Club when I moved down from Skegness when I was only sixteen. It really helped me adjust from being away from home and getting used to city life.”
Ruston Toms FIH
Chairman of the Trustees, Founding Director– Blue Apple
Ruston was one of the founding trustees when the PM Trust was formed in 2002. He qualified as a Chef at Westminster Kingsway College and completed his apprenticeship at Pennyhill Park Hotel & Spa in Surrey and was a resident of the original PM Club in 1980's. He co- founded an independent foodservice business called Blue Apple in 1998 which, had pre pandemic revenues of £25m & employed 400 staff. Ruston is also a member of UK Hospitality’s, Foodservice Forum and past chair of the Association of Catering Excellence and a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality.
Tim Jones
Trust Secretary & Chairman CH&CO Group
Tim established CH&Co with his late wife, Robyn, in 1991. He originally trained as a chartered accountant with Price Waterhouse and was Financial Controller of Marvel Comics between 1986 and 1990.
Tim has always been actively involved in all aspects of the business, focusing principally on strategic direction, business planning and client relations helping the group increase its turnover to £265m operating at over 700 sites across the country with approaching 6,000 staff. Tim is also involved with a number of charities and is a trustee of Hospitality Action.
Holly Addison
Partner, Commercial & Board Practice - Leathwaite Executive Search
Working at the intersection of Consumer, Technology, Lifestyle and Digital, she specialises in senior and board-level appointments with a focus on transformational leadership within the marketing, sales, operations, customer experience and commercial functions.
Earlier in her career, Holly was the founding Director of a boutique executive search and consulting firm and spent five years working for the Walt Disney organisation in the USA, London and Paris.
Holly is a passionate supporter of inclusion and diversity and is a founding member of Plan B - a leadership mentoring initiative to help female professionals break through to executive and board level. Holly also chairs the Global Inclusion Council at Leathwaite and is an active member of the Business Leaders Group for Disability Confident.
Holly was a former Acorn Award Winner, chaired The Acorn Club for 13 years and was one of the founders of The Acorn Scholarship. She is also a Mentor for Springboard UK and is a passionate supporter of young people’s careers in the industry.
Medina Williamson
Head of Sales The Lansdowne Club Mayfair
Medina joined the Trust in the Summer 2023 and and brings 28 years of industry experience, working in the hospitality sector in front of house operations working her way up to having held positions at several notable London institutions, including Director of Events Sales at The Connaught (where her team was awarded Best Conference & Banqueting Team at the Cateys 2012 ), Director of Event Sales at Royal Lancaster London, Sales Manager at The Dorchester, and Business Development Manager at Café Royal. It was whilst working at The Dorchester that Medina was awarded Honorary Fellowship from West London College for her contribution to hospitality. Working with Professor David Foskett, she has also consulted for various organisations offering hospitality education and training advice to FE and HE establishments across the globe. Medina loves hospitality and is keen to promote the opportunities that it offers to young people.
Marc Whitely
Senior Lecturer Westminster Kingsway College
Marc has worked in the hospitality for over 30 years. In his current role as Senior Lecturer he passes on his years of knowledge and experience to the students at Westminster Kingsway College in Victoria. Marc started his early career in the US and travelled widely. First with Disney in Florida, then New York, and then he became the Manager of a private members club in Vail, Colorado. This was followed by the iconic Sweet Basil Restaurant also in Vail. Marc then returned to the UK to open Harvey Nichols new venture, The Oxo Tower. Marc’s other industry experience includes Firmdale Hotels, Christophers in Covent Garden and Restaurant Director for the Rocco Forte Hotels at the Lowry in Manchester where Marc was the recipient of a Catey award. The length and breadth of Marc’s restaurant and hotel experience finally bought his career to Westminster College in 2017 where he was approached by the College to head up the front of house hospitality faculty. Marc over saw the refurbishment and re-launch of the Escoffier Restaurant at the College in 2019, to great acclaim. Marc shows such commitment and dedication to teaching the students Westminster College that he was a natural choice to join the Trustee team.
Brian Turner CBE
Brian is one of Britain’s most well-known chefs having trained at Simpson’s in the Strand, The Savoy, The Beau Rivage in Lausanne and Claridge’s. In 1971 he opened the kitchens of The Capital Hotel with Richard Shepherd where they won a then rare Michelin star.
Turner is the President of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts which he has combined with a successful career as a TV personality.
In June 2002 Turner was awarded a CBE for his services to tourism and training in the catering industry. Since then Turner has been made an Honorary Professor of The University of West London, a Fellow of the City and Guilds of London Institute as well as receiving Honorary Doctorates of Science at Leeds Metropolitan and Sheffield Hallam Universities.
Brian plays an active role in campaigns to encourage British people to get back into the kitchen and enjoy cooking even more.
John Williams MBE
As Executive Chef at The Ritz, Williams oversees a kitchen brigade of over 60 chefs. He is responsible for the seasonal menus as a Two Michelin Star chef for The Ritz Restaurant and The Palm Court, renowned for their world-famous Afternoon Tea and The Rivoli Barand Room Service. The Ritz received a Royal Warrant for Banqueting and Catering Services from His Royal Highness King Charles; The Ritz was the first and only hotel to receive this prestigious accolade.
In May 2024, Chef John Williams was named President of The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, through which he tirelessly promotes the education and training of young chefs.
Under his leadership, The Ritz Restaurant was awarded one Michelin Star in the Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland 2017 for the first time in the hotel’s history. In 2019, The Ritz London: The Cookbookby John Williams was published. In 2025, The Ritz Restaurant was awarded Two Michelin Stars.
Gary Hunter
Co Founding Director of Hunters Academy of Food and past Vice Principal for Westminster Kingsway College Hospitality, Culinary Arts and Adult Learning
Gary has over 20 years of experience, working across all aspects of the education sector as a leader in the field of culinary, hospitality, vocational and adult education. He recently retired from his role as Vice Principal at Westminster Kingsway however he devoted many years in leading the college in all areas of vocational growth. A published author in ‘blended learning’, Gary has influenced the Higher Education area greatly in securing strong and professional pathways for students to develop their careers, working directly with leading industry associations to support this
We usually hold a number of events during the year for which we would welcome any support.
Recent fundraising partners are The Association of Catering Excellence (ACE) and The Reunion des Gastronomes.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like to become a fundraising partner, thank you.
Please click on “apply now” and complete the online form.
Any donations are always gratefully received to help the next generation of young chefs, thank you.
