Mon 9th Oct 2017 - BII reveals 2017 NITAs finalists BII reveals 2017 NITAs finalists: The British Institute of Innkeepers (BII) has announced the finalists in the eight categories for the National Innovation in Training Awards (NITAs) 2017. The finalists in each category will now undergo the final judging stage of presentations and interviews in front of panels of industry experts and sponsors on Thursday, 19 October, with the exception of the licensee trainers who will be visited and interviewed in their own pubs. The winners will be revealed at the NITAs awards dinner on the evening of Tuesday, 21 November at Café de Paris in London. The NITAs, in partnership with CPL Training Group and Propel, celebrate those who have demonstrated training excellence and innovation in the licensed retail sector. The eight categories and finalists are best training programme – leased and tenanted companies under 200 outlets (sponsored by Greene King): JW Lees and St Austell Brewery; best training programme – leased and tenanted companies more than 200 outlets (sponsored by the BII): Punch, Marstons and Thwaites; best managed training programme – companies under 50 outlets (sponsored by Admiral Taverns): The Coaching Inn Group, 16 Hospitality and Oakman Inns; best managed training programme – companies with more than 50 outlets (sponsored by Star Pubs & Bars): Stonegate Pub Company, Bermondsey Pub Company, Bill’s Restaurants and TGI Friday's; professional trainer of the year (sponsored by BIIAB): Prakash Borhara (Stonegate), Paul Mannering (HIT Training), Daniel Lowbridge (Quit 51), and Simon Haslam (JSH Solutions); licensee trainer of the year (sponsored by Stonegate): Mark Thornhill (Kings Head, Winchester), Mark Holden (Inn Cornwall), Jennifer Kuhn (Windsor Fenchurch), and Harriet Teague (Fuller, Smith & Turner); best apprenticeship training programme (sponsored by HIT Training): Greene King, Mitchells & Butlers and St Austell Brewery; best casual dining training programme (sponsored by HGEM): Oakman Inns and Living Ventures. In addition to the aforementioned categories, The Franca Knowles Lifetime Achievement Award (sponsored by C&C Group) will be chosen by a panel led by Keith Knowles, chief executive and founder of Beds and Bars. This award will identify and recognise an individual working within the on-licensed retail sector who leads by example and demonstrates training and people are at the core of what they do. This is an industry recognition award rather than a category open for entries, and is in memory of the late Franca Knowles, who herself was a multiple winner of NITA awards. An “Outstanding Innovation Award” will also be given on the awards night (sponsored by Sky) to an individual or company who showed the strongest innovative thinking and delivery. Daniel Davies, chief executive of CPL Training Group, said: “On behalf of CPL, I’d like to congratulate all of the finalists. To get to this stage is already demonstrative of their outstanding commitment to training and development. The NITAs, which showcase the very best of what the industry has to offer, is the ultimate training benchmark for any hospitality business or individual. It’s been a pleasure to be involved in organising this year’s event, alongside the BII and Propel. We wish everyone involved the best of luck, and we look forward to the ceremony in November.” BII chief executive Mike Clist added: “Last year’s relaunch of the NITAs proved to be a very popular return to the celebration of some of the fantastic people and programmes out there. This year we’ve seen just how vital the training and development of staff is to our industry and how exciting and rewarding a career in the hospitality industry can be. We are a people business and investing in effective training should be at the heart of everything we do. We can’t wait to celebrate these successes with our finalists and winners on 21 November at the Café de Paris. We are also very grateful for the support of our fantastic category sponsors and, of course, our partners, CPL Training Group and Propel.” Tickets for the NITAs are £150 plus VAT and can be booked by emailing anne.steele@propelinfo.com