A young Ayrshire bartender has been named one of the UK’s brightest emerging talents after winning one of the country’s most prestigious competitions for hospitality students.

Declan Sloan, from Kilmarnock, was named Front of House Champion at Nestlé Professional’s Toque d’Or competition after impressing judges with his customer service, mixology, leadership and sustainability knowledge. The achievement marks another milestone for the Diageo Learning for Life graduate, whose journey into hospitality began during the pandemic after years of searching for a career that felt like the right fit.

After leaving school, Declan explored everything from sports and fitness to mechanical engineering, before a short-term role through the Kickstart scheme left him once again questioning what came next. It was a conversation with his cousin, Frazer, who had previously completed Diageo’s Learning for Life programme, that persuaded him to give hospitality a chance.

“My mum said to me, ‘What have you got to lose?’ Looking back now, that was probably the best advice I could have had,” said Declan.

From his first Learning for Life session, Declan quickly realised hospitality was a career he wanted to pursue and could see the opportunities the programme would open up. With no previous experience, he embraced the opportunity to learn new skills, gain practical experience and build confidence in a customer-facing environment. Within weeks, he had secured his first role as a bar back, learning the industry from the ground up.

Since graduating from the programme in 2020, Declan has combined work at The Howard Arms, Kilmarnock with his studies at Ayrshire College while building an impressive record in national competitions. After winning bronze and silver medals in previous hospitality contests, he claimed gold at the 2026 TUCO Competitions before being crowned Front of House Champion at Toque d’Or, widely regarded as one of the industry’s leading platforms for emerging talent.

The finals took place over a week in London, with competitors tested on everything from wine pairing and sustainability to customer service, coffee, mixology and leadership under pressure. Despite his growing success, Declan never expected to hear his name announced as the winner.

“When they called my name, it took a second to register. I was absolutely shocked.”

While the awards have been a career highlight, Declan says the biggest transformation has been in himself.

“I wasn’t really a people person before. Learning for Life and working in hospitality pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me build confidence. It put me in situations where I had to speak to people and develop those skills.”

Reflecting on Declan’s success, Gillian Dalziel, Programme Manager for Diageo’s Learning for Life, added: “Declan’s story is exactly why Learning for Life exists. Like many participants, he joined the programme unsure what came next. Through practical training, industry experience and ongoing support from industry experts, he discovered a career that matched his interests, built his confidence and opened doors he never imagined.

“Hospitality is about far more than helping someone find a job. It’s about helping people discover their strengths, develop confidence and realise their potential. Seeing someone like Declan go on to achieve national recognition is something we’re incredibly proud of.”

Looking ahead, Declan hopes to continue developing his career in hospitality before one day opening his own bar. He is also encouraging other young people, particularly those unsure about their future, to consider the sector.

“Just do it. Hospitality is so much more than people think it is. Every day is different, and you learn so many transferable skills. It helped me become more confident and comfortable speaking to people.

“What you put into hospitality is what you get out of it. If I hadn’t taken that leap and joined Learning for Life, I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today.”