The NITAs, launched in partnership with the BII Awarding Body and Access Hospitality, recognise individuals and businesses in the licensed trade who put their staff first, creating training programmes and nurturing long-term careers in the industry.
Leased and tenanted companies can be awarded for ‘Best Training Programme’, with separate categories for companies under 200 outlets, more than 200 outlets, under 50 outlets, over 50 outlets and individual operators.
The Staff Wellbeing Award, added last year, is now a core award, and the Hospitality Apprentice of the Year Award is a new category in this year’s NITAs.
Other awards include Best Training Programme: Apprenticeships, Training Professional of the Year Award and HR Manager of the Year Award.
How to enter
To enter, you first choose your category and enter online, before entry forms are assessed and finalists announced. Next, online presentations and panel interviews follow with the judges, before winners are crowned in the April 2022 awards ceremony.
You can apply for more than one category, and the last date for entry submissions is Friday 25 February 2022.
The BII believes those at the heart of recruitment, retention, development and wellbeing of their teams need to be recognised for their contributions over the past year, especially due to the pandemic’s impact.
Franca Knowles Lifetime Achievement Award
The trade body will also announce the winner of the industry recognition award the Franca Knowles Lifetime Achievement Award at the awards ceremony.
The award will recognise an individual who leads by example, and the winner will be picked by a panel led by Beds & Bars founder and chief executive Keith Knowles.
This accolade is in memory of the late Franca Knowles, who was a multiple winner of NITA awards and was passionate about the importance of investing in people and their continued training and development.