The inaugural Trevor Drayton Food and Beverage Scholarship is open to food or beverage employees in the Hunter Region who have been working in the industry for five years or less.

The winner will have the opportunity to work with internationally acclaimed chefs and winemakers and undertake work experience at Webster’s Osia Restaurant, in Singapore.

Drayton and welder Edgar Orgo were killed in an explosion at Drayton’s Family Wines, Pokolbin, in January 2008.

‘‘I was a personal friend and I knew Trevor really well,’’ Webster said.

‘‘I opened a private dining room and wine room at Carrington Place and, with the blessing of Max and Caroline, his mum and dad, I now call that room the Trevor Drayton Hunter Valley Wine Room.

‘‘We’ve had three events there in the past two years. The first one had 10 or 15 people, last year we had 30 and this year we hope to have a full restaurant. All money raised in that room will be used to help a food or beverage person in the Hunter Region further their skills in Trevor’s name. The Drayton family are also helping to fund the scholarship.’’

Webster said applicants could be ‘‘from the kitchen or the service side, they don’t have to be wine-related, or culinary-related’’.

The Young Outback Chef Scholarship, which kicked off in 1997, is another of Webster’s initiatives.

‘‘I love giving young kids in regional areas a chance. I’m trying to create opportunities for kids who might work in an RSL club, or in a small cafe, who have great skills but wouldn’t get the opportunity unless somebody opened the door for them,’’ he said.

For more information about the 2012 Trevor Drayton Food and Beverage Scholarship, email Scott Webster at relax@carringtonplace.com.au.

The deadline for applications is Friday, February 10.