Daly Recruitment is proud to continue its long-standing partnership with Ulster University’s Department of Hospitality, Tourism and Events Management through the sponsorship of the annual Academy Restaurant Supervisory Award. The award recognises excellence in the module’s core assessment, the Student Supervisory, in which students take full responsibility for managing the Academy Restaurant during a live service.

Throughout this assessment, students oversee every element of the operation -from pre-service planning and coordination to real-time execution and post-service evaluation – mirroring the demands and standards of real-world hospitality management.

Each year, the top-performing student is awarded a dining voucher for a restaurant of their choice, offering them the opportunity to experience best-in-class hospitality from a guest’s perspective.

For 2025, the award was presented to  Reuben McIlvenny, who achieved the highest mark in the module and selected Deanes Restaurant for his celebratory dining experience.

Commenting on the award, Reuben said:

“Thank you to Nichola for sponsoring this award. Your support genuinely motivates International Hospitality Management students at Ulster University to strive for excellence, aim higher, and grow into the next generation of hospitality leaders. We truly appreciate your encouragement and commitment.”

Simon Russell, Programme Director, BSc (Hons) International Hospitality Management at Ulster University, added:

“The Student Supervisory assessment is one of the most transformative experiences our students undertake, and Reuben demonstrated outstanding leadership, professionalism and composure throughout. We are incredibly grateful to Daly Recruitment for their ongoing support, which adds real value, industry insight and motivation for our students as they prepare to join the hospitality workforce.”

Nichola Daly, Founder of Daly Recruitment, commented:

“At Daly Recruitment, we work closely with hospitality businesses every day and see first-hand how important strong management is to the success of an operation. Investing in students at this stage helps build the skills, confidence and standards needed for the next generation of hospitality managers. We’re proud to support initiatives that develop real talent for the future of the industry.”

Daly Recruitment remains committed to supporting hospitality professionals at every stage of their careers, from emerging talent to experienced leaders.

Congratulations to Reuben on this well-deserved achievement!