And Heather Moore’s efforts have been recognised with a Hunter Women’s Business Network Emerging Leader Scholarship.

Miss Moore received the accolade along with 12 others last month who were invited to the HBWN Regional Connect Conference at Fort Scratchley in Newcastle.

The scholarships are open to women in NSW aged 35 or under who are members or nominated by members of the HBWN.

Along with County Dining, the restaurant she operates at Morpeth, Miss Moore won the award for H for Hospitality, her consulting business – and both businesses were founded in the past six months.

Miss Moore said H for Hospitality was born to change the perception of working in the hospitality industry.

“Essentially my goal is to improve the standards of people in hospitality and how people think of it in terms of a profession instead of just a job people do while they’re at uni,” she said.

“It is quite difficult to train staff and is time consuming and costly and I think it’s something the Hunter Valley has been lacking in thepast few years . . . that commitment to service.”

Miss Moore said she enjoyed the challenges of running her businesses.

“It is hectic but they’re both within a field I love so it doesn’t feel like I’m running two businesses,” she said.