A roll call of 17 finalists had navigated a rigorous judging process over seven months, including a mentoring process and a weekend-long masterclass to test skill, enthusiasm, dynamism and business acumen.
The eventual three winners were:
- Business Development Manager of the Year: Yvonne Fraser from Greene King Pub Partners
- Area Manager of the Year: Emma Deabill of Yo! Sushi
- Rising Star: Adam Sykes of Fuller, Smith & Turner
High standard
ALMR chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “Congratulations to this year’s winners, they should feel especially proud as the competition was particularly fierce and of an exceptionally high standard.
“The ALMR Operations Awards are a fantastic asset, not only to the ALMR but to the entire sector. The sector is full of enterprising and talented individuals driving innovation and this competition does a great job spotlighting that talent.”
Cutting edge
ALMR Ops Awards founder Nick Bish said: “Each year the awards process seeks to reveal, prove and celebrate those individuals at the cutting edge of licensed hospitality. All of these men and women play a crucial role in the continuing success of the dynamic and exciting licensed retail hospitality sector.”
The importance of eating and drinking out businesses to the UK economy was highlighted at the awards, with Nicholls pointing out that the sector generates £63bn in turnover and contributes £32bn gross value added, as well as paying a third of turnover in taxes and investing £4.4bn a year in British high streets and local communities. The sector supports 1.6m jobs and creates one in seven of all new jobs, she added.
The ALMR represents more than 90% of all managed pubs in the UK as well as leading casual dining chains and world-renowned nightclubs.