The BII’s National Innovation in Training Awards 2024 (NITAs), recognising excellence in people development of teams and individuals from across the hospitality sector, were held yesterday evening in front of a packed house at Porchester Hall, London.
The NITAs evening ceremony followed the BII People Conference during the day, where guests heard from leading thinkers from across the sector on attracting & retaining talent, creating truly inclusive spaces, and creating nurturing environments for teams.
This year saw an overwhelming number of entries for the Hospitality Apprentice of the Year award. To ensure as many apprentices as possible were celebrated, the category was divided between Kitchen and Front of House & Management. The quality of these apprentices was phenomenal, and all the finalists, not just the winners, were celebrated by the 300 strong crowd of operators and industry colleagues.
Winners on the evening were:
Best Training Programme: Apprenticeships – Marston’s
Best Training Programme: Sustainability – Punch Pubs & Co.
Best Training Programme: Individual Operator – Steve Banks, The Woodman
Best Training Programme: Managed & Partnerships, Over 500 – Marston’s Investment
Best Training Programme: Managed & Partnerships, Under 500 – Butcombe Pubs & Inns
Best Recruitment Strategy – Brewhouse & Kitchen
Online Training Platform – Brewhouse & Kitchen
Training Professional of the Year – Simon Haslam, JSH Solutions
Equity, Diversity & Inclusivity – Marston’s
Hospitality Apprentice of the Year: Kitchen – Handerline Morency, Fuller’s
Hospitality Apprentice of the Year: Front of House & Management – Alex Marshall, Brewhouse & Kitchen
The awards culminated in the very special Franca Knowles Live your Life Award, presented by Luke Knowles, CEO of Beds and Bars. Decided by a panel of previous winners, this year the award went to Phil Thorley of Thorley Taverns, for his dedication to the betterment of our sector, selfless charity work and commitment to supporting his industry colleagues and friends.
Steve Alton, BII CEO commented:
“At the heart of what we do at the BII is championing and supporting the professional development of operators and their teams. Today’s People Conference shared insights, connected colleagues and suppliers, and gave our audience some brilliant ideas and thinking to take back to their teams.
“Our NITAs award winners were truly brilliant, and it was a real privilege to be able to recognise the incredible talent and dedication to training and development that the companies and individuals in our sector deliver every single day.
“We are also incredibly proud that the NITAs can facilitate the celebration of the very special Franca Knowles You’re your Life Award, with Phil Thorley being this year’s deserving recipient.
“Congratulations to all the winners, and a huge thank you to everyone that made these events so very special.”
Dawn Lawrence, CBII, Founder and CEO of HJUK had this to say about the day:
“Sharing knowledge, best practice and supporting the hospitality sector is at the heart of everything I do and as a partner and panel host. I can confidently say that the BII People Conference is invaluable for anyone in the People space. The opportunity to network with like-minded professionals is unparalleled, fostering connections that can lead to collaboration and innovation.
“Attending the BII People Conference is not just about learning; it’s about engaging with a community that is passionate about shaping the future of hospitality. Huge congratulations to all the finalists and winners on the night, all doing incredible things in the recruitment, training and development of their teams.”
Photos from the People Conference can be found on the BII Facebook page here, with pictures from the NITAs award ceremony here.
Credit: Justine Burton, Berties Photography.
