The awards recognise excellence in people development of teams and individuals from across the hospitality sector, were held on Thursday (21 November) in front of a packed house at Porchester Hall, London.
The NITAs evening ceremony followed the BII People Conference during the day, where guests heard from leading thinkers from across the sector on attracting and retaining talent, creating truly inclusive spaces and creating nurturing environments for teams.
This year saw an overwhelming number of entries for the Hospitality Apprentice of the Year award. To ensure as many apprentices as possible were celebrated, the category was divided between Kitchen and Front of House & Management.
Brilliant ideas
The BII said the quality of these apprentices was “phenomenal” and all the finalists, not just the winners, were celebrated by a 300-strong crowd of operators and industry colleagues.
Winners on the evening were:
Best Training Programme: Apprenticeships – Marston’s
Best Training Programme: Sustainability – Punch Pubs & Co.
Best Training Programme: Individual Operator – Steve Banks, The Woodman
Best Training Programme: Managed & Partnerships, Over 500 – Marston’s Investment
Best Training Programme: Managed & Partnerships, Under 500 – Butcombe Pubs & Inns
Best Recruitment Strategy - Brewhouse & Kitchen
Online Training Platform - Brewhouse & Kitchen
Training Professional of the Year – Simon Haslam, JSH Solutions
Equity, Diversity & Inclusivity – Marston’s
Hospitality Apprentice of the Year: Kitchen – Handerline Morency, Fuller’s
Hospitality Apprentice of the Year: Front of House & Management – Alex Marshall, Brewhouse & Kitchen
The awards culminated in the very special Franca Knowles Live Your Life award, presented by Luke Knowles, CEO of Beds & Bars.
Decided by a panel of previous winners, the award was handed to Thorley for his “dedication to the betterment of our sector, selfless charity work and commitment to supporting his industry colleagues and friends”.
Conference is invaluable
BII CEO Steve Alton said: “At the heart of what we do at the BII is championing and supporting the professional development of operators and their teams.
“Today’s People Conference shared insights, connected colleagues and suppliers and gave our audience some brilliant ideas and thinking to take back to their teams.
“Our NITAs award winners were truly brilliant and it was a real privilege to be able to recognise the incredible talent and dedication to training and development that the companies and individuals in our sector deliver every single day.
HJUK founder and CEO Dawn Lawrence CBII added: “Sharing knowledge, best practice and supporting the hospitality sector is at the heart of everything I do and as a partner and panel host.
“I can confidently say that the BII People Conference is invaluable for anyone in the People space. The opportunity to network with like-minded professionals is unparalleled, fostering connections that can lead to collaboration and innovation.
“Attending the BII People Conference is not just about learning; it’s about engaging with a community that is passionate about shaping the future of hospitality. Huge congratulations to all the finalists and winners on the night, all doing incredible things in the recruitment, training and development of their teams.”
