2009 BII NITA Shortlist Announced

Each of the shortlisted entrants will now be interviewed by a panel of industry judges. BII has revamped the competition for 2009 and has appointed a new team of judges, which is being chaired by Vicky Crossingham CBII, Training and Recruitment Director for St Austell Brewery. St Austell, the 2006 BII NITA Supreme Award winner, has chosen not to enter the awards this year, even though the robust nature of the judging process would have ensured there was no conflict of interest.

Winners in the seven categories will be announced at the BIIAB Annual Conference in Coventry on 18th February 2010. Judges will then select an overall winner to receive the 2009 ‘Supreme Award’, which will be announced and presented at the BII Annual Lunch in May 2010.
 
Sue Medhurst ABII, BII Director of Marketing, commented: “The BII NITAs are always extremely popular and competition for finalist places is always strong. I’m delighted to say that in spite of the pressures on all businesses in the current climate, training is still clearly seen as a vital way to secure business success and we’ve received a higher number of entries than last year. We view this as testament to the fact that more and more organisations are taking pride in their training and seeking rewards for excellence in this field. We wish all shortlisted entrants the very best of luck for the finals.”
 
Entries have been received from all sectors of the industry – restaurant groups, pub companies, breweries, supermarkets, convenience stores, colleges, training companies and individual licensees. Entrants are judged on their own merits irrespective of the size of the organisation or the number of people being trained. They do not have to be BII members or BIIAB approved centres or offering BIIAB qualifications.
 

Shortlist by Category

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

• Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company, Edinburgh
• The Restaurant Group, London
• Charles Wells Pub Company, Bedford
• Enterprise Inns, Solihull
• Mitchells and Butlers, Birmingham

Licensee trainer of the year award – sponsored by Matthew Clark

• Paul McNiece, Frankie & Bennys, Telford
• Helen Wood MBII, The Broad Leys Bar & Restaurant, Aylesbury
• Tim Blake, Benson Blakes Bar & Grill, Bury St Edmunds

Innovation in training award – sponsored by Charles Wells Pub Company

• Punch Taverns, Burton-upon-Trent
• Enterprise Inns, Solihull

Social responsibilities award – sponsored by J D Wetherspoon

• C J Lang & Son Limited, Dundee
• Hull College Group, Hull
• Punch Taverns, Burton-upon-Trent
• NEET Futures CIC, Wirral

Best Industry Training Initiative to Support Professionalism – sponsored by Enterprise Inns

• EDU Plus CIC, Banbury
• The Lewis Partnership, Stafford
• Luminar, Milton Keynes

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

• Carl Mannion FBII.tp, NEET Futures CIC, Wirral
• Michael Kheng CBII, Kurnia Group, Mablethorpe, Lincs
• Nicky Delaney, Access Training, Swansea
• David Hawbrook FBII, abv Training, Stone
• Caroline Bowes, Hilton Hotels, Leeds

Security training award – sponsored by BIIAB and City & Guilds

• NEET Futures CIC, Wirral
• Blueprint Training, Edinburgh

Contact

Joanna Buston
Email: joannab@bii.org
Telephone: 01276 417863