Excellent standards, investment in teams, and innovation in training schemes will be acknowledged by the awards, the BII said.
The final awards ceremony will take place at the Café de Paris, Soho, London, on 20 November 2018.
Nine categories
There are nine award categories to enter: Best Training Programme – Leased & Tenanted Companies under 200 outlets; Best Training Programme – Leased & Tenanted Companies over 200 outlets; Best Managed Training Programme Companies under 50 outlets; Best Managed Training Programme Companies over 50 outlets; Licensee Trainer of the Year Award; Professional Trainer of the Year Award; Best Apprenticeship Training Programme; Best Casual Dining Training Programme; and the Franca Knowles Lifetime Achievement Award.
A panel of industry veterans, led by Keith Knowles, CEO and founder of Beds & Bars, will choose the individual winner of the Franca Knowles Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is named in memory of the late Franca Knowles, who was awarded an MBE for outstanding services to training schemes in the sector.
BII CEO Mike Clist encouraged companies offering a unique or rewarding training process to enter the awards.
“The NITAs are a key platform that not only help us highlight how vital the training and development of staff is to our industry, but crucially demonstrate that hospitality can offer individuals a rewarding and varied career – it’s so much more than just a job."
Ultimate benchmark
Clist added: “The NITAs is the ultimate benchmark for training ingenuity in the industry – rewarding individuals and businesses who deliver outstanding mentorship and development for their people.”
Individuals, training organisations, and pubcos are eligible to enter the awards. The deadline for entries is Friday 31 August.