Hospitality Guild Apprenticeship Awards now taking nominations

Nominations are now open for the Hospitality Guild’s second annual apprenticeship awards, which recognise and celebrate the achievements of apprentices, employers, providers and mentors working in the hospitality industry in England.
 
Suzy Jackson, executive director of the Hospitality Guild, said that last year’s awards had established themselves as the premier event celebrating apprentices’ achievements and that she was looking forward to building on its success this year.
 
“We had such impressive nominations last year and the overall quality was outstanding. It really highlighted the fantastic work that apprentices do and, with apprenticeships at the top of everyone’s agenda at the moment, we’re really hoping to build on the success of last year’s awards.
 
“With our Act NOW! on Apprenticeships campaign now in full swing and research showing that apprenticeships can offer businesses significant financial benefits, we’re expecting to see our awards grow bigger and better.”
 
Nominations for the following categories are now open:

• Intermediate Apprentice of the Year
• Advanced Apprentice of the Year
• Apprenticeship Mentor of the Year
• Employer of the Year: SME (less than 250 employees)
• Employer of the Year: Large (more than 250 employees)
• Partnership of the Year

The award winners will be announced at an exclusive event in London in early December, where the Hospitality Guild will also be recognising rising stars from across the sector by inducting them into the Hospitality Guild’s Young Hall of Fame. Both last year’s and this year’s intermediate and advanced apprenticeship winners will also be entered into the Young Hall of Fame.

The Apprenticeship Awards will once again be held in partnership with sector skills council People 1st, and have received support from a wide range of industry organisations and leaders, including the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), the Professional Association for Catering Education (PACE), the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping)and general manager of Galvin at Windows and founder of National Waiters Day, Fred Sirieix.
 
The awards have the full support of David Way, Executive Director, National Apprenticeship Service, who said: “Many great figures in the hospitality industry started life as apprentices and their training gave them the confidence and skills to see their talent blossom. Awards help to build this confidence and motivate people to be the best they can.”
 
The BII’s CEO, Tim Hulme, said: “As the awarding body for Intermediate and Advanced Apprenticeships in Licensed Hospitality we are fully supportive of the Hospitality Guild Apprenticeship Awards and the contribution they make. An apprenticeship offers an individual a credible pathway to a career in the licensed trade and within our industry there exists a wide range of opportunities.”
 
Fred Sirieix said that he was keen to see as many people as possible enter the awards, but especially those from a food and beverage service background.
 
“Having worked with the Hospitality Guild on National Waiters Day, I am absolutely thrilled to continue that relationship through the Apprenticeship Awards.”
 
Nominations are open to anyone undertaking a hospitality-related apprenticeship who was working as an apprentice on 31 March 2013.
 
There is no charge to enter the awards and nominations must be submitted by Monday 7 October 2013.