A YOUNG waitress from Hampshire is travelling across the globe to show off her hospitality skills at an international competition to fly the flag for Britain.

Lucy Jones is jetting off to São Paulo, Brazil this weekend to compete in one of the biggest vocational education and skills competitions in the world.

The 21-year-old is taking on the WorldSkills Competition in the restaurant services category.

She will be using her experience as head waitress at Chewton Glen Hotel and will be joining a 41-strong team from the UK.

The competition attracts people in the hospitality industry from across the world with more than 1,000 people aged between 18 and 25 coming from the Americas, Europe, Asia, South Pacific and Africa.

They will be competing for medals in more than 40 different skills including electrical installation, welding, web design, cooking and bricklaying.

Competitors will simulate real work challenges that must be completed to international standards of quality and excellence.

Daily Echo:

Lucy’s WorldSkills journey started almost two years ago when she was a hospitality student at Brockenhurst College.

She said: “I am tremendously grateful to the college for their fabulous support and training throughout the qualifying stages.

“Since completing my three-year course at Brockenhurst I have been a regular visitor to the college for additional training sessions in preparation for the finals of WorldSkills and I really do hope that my experiences of this competition will be of benefit to other students. studying at Brockenhurst College in the future”

Lucy has already competed in the EuroSkills Lille competition in Spetember last year and the November 213 Skills Show.

Lucy’s teacher at Brockenhurst College, Cathy MacArthur, said: “I know that Lucy is very proud to be representing the UK and she will be an excellent ambassador. We are very proud of Lucy and all that she has achieved so far and wish her the very best of luck in Brazil.”

Daily Echo: São Paulo, Brazil

Lucy started working at Chewton Glen as a part-time waitress four years ago while she was still studying for her diploma in hospitality supervision at Brockenhurst College.

By May 2012 she has been promoted to a weekend Commis Waitress in the hotel’s main restaurant and in December 2013 she was appointed head waitress.

Anita Bower from Chewton Glen said: “Lucy’s place in the Squad UK is a tremendous personal achievement and we are delighted and thrilled for her, she has shown exemplary skills and real dedication to her professional training.

“Lucy is still continuing to develop her skills portfolio working as part of our front of house reception team.

“We have watched her career develop from starting at Chewton Glen and she has continued to excel and received the Chewton Glen Award of Excellence in 2014.”