Ahead of the National Innovation in Training Awards (NITAs) ceremony on 21 November, the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has today announced the finalists in all five categories.
The NITAs, in association with Sky, were launched this year and reward those who have demonstrated training excellence and innovation in the licensed retail sector.
Prior to the award ceremony, which will take place at the Café de Paris in London, those selected as finalists in each category will now undergo the final judging stages made up of panellists and industry experts. The winners will be announced at the award ceremony and will recognise those companies and individuals for whom people and training are at the heart of their businesses.
The categories included:
Professional Trainer of the Year, sponsored by Star Pubs and Bars
Finalists: Simon Haslam (People Stuff Matters Ltd), Donna Hewitson (People Stuff Matters Ltd) and Daniel Pettigrew (Pettigrew Training)
Best Licensee Development Programme (L&T), sponsored by Wadworth
Finalists: Chris Moulson (JW Lees & Co (Brewers) Ltd), Michael Soderquest (Star Pubs & Bars), Sarah Milward (Greene King Pub Partners) and Jackie Burn (Punch Taverns)
Individual Operator Trainer of the Year, sponsored by BII
Finalists: Glen Duckett, (EAT (Employment and Training)Pennines Ltd), Mark Thornhill (The King's Head), Marsha Jones (Magic Taverns) and Julie Bell (Fayre Inns)
Best Managed Company for Training (less than 30 sites), sponsored by Admiral Taverns
Finalists: Sarah Halpin, (Castle Rock Brewery), Hollie McAlpine, (Beds & Bars Group), Tim Foster, (Yummy Pub Company), James Nye (Anglian Country Inns), Steven Greenhalf (Fayre Inns)
Training Company of the Year, sponsored by Greene King
Finalists: Chris Rose (HIT Training Ltd), Robert Passingham (CPL Training Group), Mark Baird (Diageo in collaboration with The Springboard Charity)
Best Company for Training (over 30 sites), sponsored by CPL Training
Finalists: Kerry Hunt (Blakemore Retail), Lucy Williams (JD Wetherspoon), Lee Woolley (Stonegate Pub Company) and Richard Parkes (St Austell Brewery)
In addition to the aforementioned categories, The Franca Knowles Lifetime Achievement Award (sponsored by SKY, the lead partner for the event), will be chosen by a panel led by Keith Knowles, CEO and founder of Beds & Bars.
This award will identify and recognise an individual working within the on-licensed retail sector who leads by example and demonstrates training and people are at the core of what they do.
This is an industry recognition award rather than a category open for entries, and is in memory of the late Franca Knowles, Keith’s wife who herself was a multiple winner of NITA awards.
David Rey, managing director of Sky Business, said, “Sky is delighted to support the NITAs and the important work that these awards recognise. Investing in the staff of the future with the right training processes and procedures is vital for the health of the licensed trade and it’s fantastic to be able to reward those outstanding individuals and companies that are working tirelessly to achieve this.”
BII CEO, Mike Clist, commented, “In this first year of re-launching the NITAs it’s been encouraging to see so many entries from some great people and companies. All the finalists have shown some great skills and programmes and there are some exciting innovations out there.
'We look forward to celebrating with all the finalists and winners on 21st November at the Café de Paris. We are a people business and investing in effective training is at the heart of all good operations.”