BII NITA winners announced

Winners of the BII's 2008 NITA awards, which recognise training excellence, have been announced today.

Among the winners - also to be unveiled via a live web broadcast - were the London-based Restaurant Group, which won Best Licensee Induction Programme, sponsored by The Publican​.

The 11 category champions will be presented with their awards at the BII's Annual Lunch at London's Grosvenor House in May.

BII director of marketing Sue Medhurst said she was "delighted" businesses were investing time and money in training despite the "unprecedented economic climate".

"Winning a BII NITA is the ultimate endorsement of training excellence and the impressive response to this year's NITAs clearly shows the level of commitment to training excellence as businesses see the benefits to both the company and the individuals within it," she added.

The full list of winners is:

Best licensee induction programme (sponsored by the Publican)​

Winner - The Restaurant Group, Borough, London

Licensee trainer of the year in managed and non-managed estates (sponsored by Matthew Clark)​

Winner - Claire Bignell FBII, the Farmers' Bar, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

Highly Commended - Sarah Fox, Frankie and Benny's, Cambridge

Best development programme in managed estates (sponsored by Enterprise Inns)​

Winner - JD Wetherspoon, Watford

Best development programme in non-managed estates (sponsored by Milestone)​

Winner - Punch Taverns, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire

Social responsibilities award where consumption is on the premises (sponsored by Charles Wells Pub Company)​

Winner - JD Wetherspoon, Watford

Best Development Programme in licensed retail where consumption is off the premises (sponsored by BII)​

Winner - CJ Lang and Son, Dundee

Highly Commended - Highfield.co.uk and Marks & Spencer, Doncaster

Social responsibilities award where consumption is off the premises (sponsored by BIIAB)​

Winner - Capper & Co, Pontyclun, Mid Glamorgan

Highly Commended - CJ Lang and Son, Dundee

Best area manager/BDM development award (sponsored by JD Wetherspoon)​

Winner - Marston's, Wolverhampton

Professional trainer of the year award (sponsored by Greene King)​

Winner - Morris Lorimer FBII, Edinburgh

Highly Commended - Peter Fulton FBII, abv Training, Carlisle, Cumbria

Best training scheme run by institutions of further and higher education in partnership with the licensed retail industry (sponsored by BII)​

Winner - JD Wetherspoon in partnership with The Centre for Leisure Retailing, Nottingham Trent University

Door supervisor training award (sponsored by BIIAB and City & Guilds)​

Winner - Innpacked, Bournemouth