BII announces 2009 NITAs shortlist

The BII has revealed its shortlist for the 2009 National Industry Training Awards (NITAs).

The competition has received entries from all sectors of the industry, including restaurant groups, pub companies, breweries, supermarkets, convenience stores, colleges, training companies and individual licensees.

Each of the shortlisted companies will be interviewed by a new panel of industry judges, chaired by training and recruitment director for St Austell Brewery Vicky Crossingham. St Austell has not entered the competition this year.

Winners of the seven categories will be announced at the BIIAB annual conference in Coventry on 18 February 2010. The overall winner of the 2009 "Supreme Award" will be announced at the BII annual lunch in May.

"The BII NITAs are always extremely popular and competition for finalist places is always strong," said BII director of marketing Sue Medhurst. "I'm delighted to say that in spite of the pressures on all businesses in the current climate, training is still clearly seen as a vital way to secure business success and we've received a higher number of entries than last year."

The shortlist is as follows:

Licensee induction programme award - sponsored by Barcare from The Bateman Group​

• Scottish Newcastle Pub Company, Edinburgh

• The Restaurant Group, London

• Charles Wells Pub Company, Bedford

• Enterprise Inns, Solihull

• Mitchells and Butlers, Birmingham

Licensee trainer of the year award - sponsored by Matthew Clark​

• Paul McNiece, Frankie Bennys, Telford

• Helen Wood MBII, The Broad Leys Bar Restaurant, Aylesbury

• Tim Blake, Benson Blakes Bar Grill, Bury St Edmunds

Innovation in training award - sponsored by Charles Wells Pub Company​

• Punch Taverns, Burton-upon-Trent

• Enterprise Inns, Solihull

Social responsibilities award - sponsored by J D Wetherspoon​

• C J Lang Son Limited, Dundee

• Hull College Group, Hull

• Punch Taverns, Burton-upon-Trent

• NEET Futures CIC, Wirral

Best Industry Training Initiative to Support Professionalism - sponsored by Enterprise Inns​

• EDU Plus CIC, Banbury

• The Lewis Partnership, Stafford

• Luminar, Milton Keynes

Professional trainer of the year award - sponsored by Greene King Pub Company​

• Carl Mannion FBII.tp, NEET Futures CIC, Wirral

• Michael Kheng CBII, Kurnia Group, Mablethorpe, Lincs

• Nicky Delaney, Access Training, Swansea

• David Hawbrook FBII, abv Training, Stone

• Caroline Bowes, Hilton Hotels, Leeds

Security training award -sponsored by BIIAB and City Guilds​

• NEET Futures CIC, Wirral

• Blueprint Training, Edinburgh