NITA winners unveiled by BII

The winners of the BII's training awards have been announced - with the exception of the Licensee trainer of the year award. Despite listing three...

The winners of the BII's training awards have been announced - with the exception of the Licensee trainer of the year award.

Despite listing three finalists the judges were unable to pick a winner from Paul McNiece of Frankie & Bennys, Telford; Helen Wood of the Broad Leys Bar & Restaurant in Aylesbury and Tim Blake of Benson Blakes Bar & Grill, Bury St Edmunds

Head judge Vicky Crossingham said: "Reaching the final stages of the BII NITAs is a great achievement and all of this year's finalists demonstrated some good and very good practice.

"After lengthy discussion, and further review, the judges felt that none had yet achieved their full potential or comprehensively met the very high standard we have set in this category.

"All of our finalists show great potential as "ones to watch" for the future but this year there was no clear winner in this category."

However those who were announced as NITA winners at the BII Award Body's conference in Coventry today include Mitchells & Butlers, Enterprise Inns and Punch Taverns.

Judges will also pick an overall winner which will be announced at the BII Annual Lunch in May.

NITA winners

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

Mitchells and Butlers

Innovation in training award - sponsored by Charles Wells Pub Company

Enterprise Inns

Social responsibilities award - sponsored by J D Wetherspoon

Punch Taverns

Best industry training initiative to support professionalism - sponsored by Enterprise Inns

EDU Plus CIC, Banbury

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

After long deliberation, the judges felt that two awards should be made in this category to recognise the different strengths of independent and corporate professional trainers. The two BII NITA winner awards go to:

Independent trainer

David Hawbrook, abv Training, Stone

Corporate Trainer

Caroline Bowes, Hilton Hotels, Leeds

Security training award - sponsored by BIIAB and City & Guilds

Blueprint Training, Edinburgh