For a decade, the ceda Rising Star Award has recognised outstanding emerging talent in the catering equipment sector; individuals who have demonstrated exceptional talent, capability and potential in their early careers.

From its inception in 2015, this award has become a symbol of aspiration, inspiration, and the bright future that new generations bring to our industry.

We’ve been chatting to some of the past winners of the Award, reminiscing about the year they won, and their thoughts and feelings and reactions on the night…

“I think the ceda Rising Star Awards are a fantastic initiative, and I’m really pleased to see it still going strong. It was an honour to be part of it, and it’s great to celebrate 10 years of recognising emerging talent in our industry.” said Tyron Stephens-Smith of TAG, winner of the first Rising Star Award in 2015. He’s reminiscent about that time in his career, acknowledging it being a period of transition, not just for him, but also TAG, “Winning the Rising Star Award was a significant milestone in my career. At the time, we were transitioning from smaller projects to delivering large-scale rollouts for some major clients. The recognition on the night and from the wider industry in the weeks and months that followed, was a real confidence boost. It reinforced my appreciation for the collaborative and supportive culture within the sector.”

“The year I won the Rising Star Award was, at the time, the most surreal and exciting time of my career,” says Paul Holder (formally of Court Catering) and 2017’s recipient. “It was still relatively early on in my career, so the idea of being nominated was humbling and intimidating. Walking up to accept the award felt like a recognition of all the hard work and effort I had put in up until that point. The recognition from peers and industry leaders felt like a pivotal moment. It wasn’t just about the award itself, but what it represented; other people in the industry were seeing my potential.”

Joanne Hamilton, a joint winner in 2021, agrees. She said, “Winning the Rising Star Award was an incredibly proud and humbling moment in my career. I remember the year vividly – it was a period of growth, challenges, and hard work. The nomination felt like a meaningful validation of the effort I had been putting into my work, and it motivated me to continue striving for excellence. The response to my win from my employer and colleagues was incredibly encouraging; there was a real sense of shared pride across the team. The recognition boosted my confidence but also reinforced my commitment to contributing meaningfully to the industry.

“Coming from an engineering background, I never expected to be nominated for such a prestigious award, let alone win it!” confesses 2023 winner, Justin Ring. “It was both motivating and a real eye-opener. I’ve always felt that the field service side of our sector often flies under the radar, so being recognised not only for my work but for the contribution of industry changes was massive.”

Billy Dyson, the 2024 winner recalls feeling a mixture of emotions to winning the award. He said, “I felt overwhelmed, excited, and privileged to even be nominated, never mind win. The feeling when your name is called out is always nice but especially in an industry where you follow in your parent’s footsteps. It was such an amazing feeling and one I’ll cherish for a long time. It made me feel like all the hard work I had put into my role was paying off and it certainly boosted my industry-related confidence.”

ABDA’s Amie Rice is the most recent winner, receiving her award in June 2025, and so her memories and feelings are still fresh. “I felt very honoured to be nominated; it was great to know that my hard work was being noticed. On the day I felt so anxious and nervous as I knew that every single person nominated deserved that award. Hearing my name called out was amazing! I felt an instant feeling of relief and pride. Having made so many friends in the industry as well, it felt like a lot of people were celebrating with me so that was also so special. I feel so privileged to work in an industry that celebrates the young people who work in it.”

The 2025 Nick Archer Technical Rising Star was Isabelle Harvey of IFES. She said, “When I first found out I’d been nominated, I remember thinking, “Wow, I must actually be doing something right!” It felt like a turning point; the start of getting more involved and connected within the industry. On the night itself, I was unbelievably proud! I felt so happy knowing I’d achieved something, not only for myself but for IFES as well. I could see how proud my colleagues were too, which made it even more special. What surprised me most was the reaction from suppliers and customers. I had people I didn’t know reaching out to congratulate me!”

All the winners credit the accolade with developing their careers. They are unanimous in the positive impact the Award has had for them both personally and professionally…

Tyron comments, “Since receiving the award, I have progressed to the role of Managing Director. I genuinely believe that the Rising Star Award helped lay the foundation for that journey, by opening doors and providing invaluable industry visibility.”

Paul says his career has gone from strength to strength. “The recognition opened doors that I didn’t even know existed. I started to gain more opportunities for further professional development with the ceda Academy and a short stint on the ceda TSG. It helped elevate my credibility in the industry and gave me more confidence to take on more responsibilities.

“Winning the award gave me a network of incredible mentors and peers whose relationships have been invaluable. The recognition acted as a seal of approval that allowed me to take bigger risks and pursue new challenges, which ultimately led me to starting my own business. Specialising in the service, repair and installation of catering equipment, some of those same mentors are now valued customers!”

“The ceda Rising Star Award played a meaningful role in elevating my professional profile, not only within my organisation but across the wider industry,” says Joanne. “It gave me a platform to connect with peers, leaders, and innovators, many of whom I may not have engaged with otherwise.”

“The award acted as a catalyst, opening doors to new opportunities, whether it was contributing to industry panels, taking on leadership roles, or mentoring emerging talent. More importantly, it instilled a sense of confidence that has stayed with me. Being recognised as a “Rising Star” validated the path I was on and encouraged me to continue pushing boundaries, both personally and professionally. Since then, I have now been promoted to Company Manager and overseeing the full company.”

“Winning the award opened more doors than I knew existed,” admits Justin. “Suddenly I was connecting with people across the industry, building relationships, and learning more than ever. It helped me develop not just as an engineer, but as someone who understands the bigger picture of how our industry works and where it’s going. In short – it accelerated my career development.”

Billy attributes his current role with winning the Rising Star Award, “Since winning the award I have furthered my career by taking on a new role working with a large national account client that’s has massively improved my skill set and continues to do daily. The role wasn’t available to just anyone and I believe my award certainly assisted with my successful appointment of this position.”

Whilst having only gained her accolade in June of this year, Isabelle is already feeling the effects of her win. She said, “Winning the Rising Star Award has given me extra confidence and a “can do” attitude. It’s made me push myself more, and I believe its opened doors for me in the industry. Before, most people didn’t know who I was or where I was from. After the win, it felt like people suddenly knew my name and wanted to talk to me. I remember going to an event a few months later and someone I’d never met came over just to say congratulations. The award has helped me to build a network I wouldn’t have otherwise had. If there’s one main takeaway it’s that winning gave me the push to put myself out there more, and I haven’t looked back since!”

The alumni all have pieces of advice to offer those starting out in the industry, or considering the industry as a career option…

“Fully embrace the pace and variety of this industry,” states Tyron. “It’s a dynamic, ever-evolving space that offers far more than you might expect at first glance. Many of us entered the industry by chance and stayed for a lifetime. There’s real opportunity here for those who are committed and curious.”

“Stay curious, embrace the learning process, and build meaningful relationships,” offers Paul. “The industry is fast-paced and constantly evolving. It’s easy to get caught up in just completing day-to-day tasks but you must take the time to understand the bigger picture and the trends shaping the industry.

“I’d also say take risks. It’s okay to make mistakes as long as you learn from them. And most importantly, don’t underestimate the power of networking and mentorship. Having a group of trusted friends and colleagues at the end of the phone can make all the difference in how quickly you grow and succeed. I am very grateful to those who I asked for advice in different stages of my career.”

Paul’s words are echoed by Joanne. She also said, “Stay curious, be proactive, and never underestimate the value of building strong relationships. This industry rewards those who are willing to learn, adapt, and go the extra mile. Take every opportunity to ask questions, observe those with experience, and learn not just the technical side of the job, but also how to work collaboratively and communicate effectively. The industry is built on trust, reliability, and a shared commitment to high standards – developing those qualities early on will set you apart.”

“I’ve always been an advocate for this industry,” confesses Justin. “So much so that I’ve even been nudging my own family towards it! I stumbled into this sector when I was 18 and haven’t looked back since. It’s an incredible whirlwind of opportunities, career growth, and great people! Dive in, get your hands dirty, and say “yes” to learning everything you can. You’ll be surprised how far curiosity, and a good attitude can take you.”

Billy’s advice is simple. “Knuckle down, give everything 110% and focus on your goals. Working in this industry is amazing and can really shape your future if you put your heart and soul into it.”

“Don’t let mistakes knock you back,” offers Isabelle. “This is such a complex industry. People who’ve been in it for 20+ years still get things wrong sometimes! It’s all part of the learning curve. Most things can be fixed, and every mistake is a chance to learn. Stay positive, persevere, and keep asking questions; you’ll realise you’re not the only one trying to figure it out! And when you get it right, that feeling makes it all worth it.”

“Take any opportunity you’re offered,” declares Amie. “I attended multiple site visits in my first week which helped me to gain a lot of knowledge very quickly. Attend as many events as possible to network and meet other people. And ask questions. Lean on the experts and don’t worry if you think it’s a silly question – it’s not! The industry feels like one big community. Everyone is so friendly and always happy to help so take advantage of this.”

Adam Mason, ceda Director General, comments, “This has been quite an emotional piece to put together, it’s so nice to pause and reflect on the very real and very positive impacts that the Awards have had on people lives and careers.

“Every year we are blown away by the calibre, passion and energy that the nominees have for this Industry – they are an outstanding credit to themselves and their employers who embrace the opportunity to recognise and platform their young people.”