National Apprenticeship Awards 2020 – Open for Entries!


Back for their 17th year, the National Apprenticeship Awards are a fantastic opportunity to showcase the apprentices, employers and champions who have gone above and beyond, in spite of the challenges faced during this pandemic.

Entries to the awards are open until 25 September 2020 and this year’s winners will be recognised via virtual ceremonies. It is free to enter the awards, and all entries must be made through our application website appawards.co.uk 

We have nine categories to recognise exceptional employers, apprentices and apprenticeship champions: 

Employer of the Year categories

  • SME Employer of the Year (for organisations with 1 to 249 employees)
  • Large Employer of the Year (for organisations with 250 to 4,999 employees)
  • Macro Employer of the Year (for organisations with 5,000+ employees)
  • Recruitment Excellence (the winner is selected from Employer of the Year award entries, and will be awarded to an organisation that has recruited a diverse and high quality apprenticeship workforce).

Apprentice of the Year and Apprenticeship Champion categories

  • Intermediate Apprentice of the Year (level 2)    
  • Advanced Apprentice of the Year (level 3)
  • Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year (level 4 or higher)
  • Rising Star of the Year* (nominated by their employer, this award recognises apprentices that have made impressive progress in their career to date, and have the potential to go even further)
  • Apprenticeship Champion of the Year (recognises individuals who go ‘above and beyond’ to champion apprenticeships. The nomination is made by a colleague or contact who recognises an individual’s ‘champion’ credentials).

* The Rising Star category will not include a public vote this year due to the condensed format of the awards 

We have produced two webinars to explain the awards process in more detail, including hints and tips on completing your application.  These can be accessed here:

Regional Ceremonies will take place online between 2 and 6 November, with the national ceremony taking place online on Wednesday 25 November. 

To find out more about the National Apprenticeship Awards 2020 please visit: appawards.co.uk


Update to our company name

What employers need to know about new funding rules

Future-Proof Your Business and Save Big: National Insurance Savings for Employers of Apprentices Under 25

HIT’s exciting brewing competition is back for 2024

HIT Launches New Fish Friers Apprenticeship

Working together with the New Government

HIT Training and The Clink Charity announce new partnership to launch apprenticeships for serving prisoners

Supporting Employers During the Economic Recovery

HIT Training Apprentice Becomes First to Achieve New Hospitality Supervisor Apprenticeship

What is the Apprenticeship Levy?

Rising stars of the UK culinary scene revealed for Young National Chef of the Year final

The Power of Adding Plant-Based to your Menu

HIT Training Ltd scoops the award for Best Training Provider at the prestigious Apprenticeship Guide Awards

HIT Retains One Third of Staff for Over 10 Years

What are apprenticeships? A guide for employers.

New Graduate Apprenticeship Launched to Build Future Hospitality Leaders

The Young National Chef of the Year Finalists Have Been Revealed

Apprentices Make History After Completing the UK’s First Ever Brewer Apprenticeship

Jill Whittaker, Managing Director of HIT Training Ltd, Awarded OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours

HIT Training Ltd strengthens its board with four new Directors

HIT Heroes Winners Unveiled in Celebration Event

Introducing the New Normal for HIT’s Apprenticeship Delivery

New movement to tackle gender inequality in the kitchen

How to Overcome Misconceptions and Unleash Employee Potential

Access Global Opportunities for Your Apprentices

Helping Young People Into Work: every employer can do one thing

New Principal appointed to HIT Chef Academy

Jill makes Public Sector Catering’s ‘Most Influential’ list

Join us for a summer of learning at HIT Training!

Three Ways to Keep your Staff Motivated and Inspired During Lockdown 3.0

We’re Unmasking Talent in the Hospitality Industry with the Launch of the HIT Heroes Awards

Stepping Up – It’s Time to Earn your Stripes

Meet our six Salon Culinaire apprentices!

Women in beer are brewing up change

Election priorities: Fixing the apprenticeship levy by Jill Whittaker OBE

Protecting the Future of the Sector: Hospitality Businesses Pledge to Fund Apprenticeships Outside Their Organisation

Hat-trick for HIT: Apprenticeship Provider of the Year three years running

It’s official – our SEND pilot is now permanent!

John Hyde Scoops Special Recognition Award

Deliveroo Launches New Chef Apprenticeship Fund to Tackle Skills Shortage

Alex Angelogiannis wows judges to take top spot in National Chef of the Year competition

Chopping Boards to Boardrooms: The Benefits of Apprenticeships at Any Career Stage

HIT Training Ltd named “Learning Provider of the Year” at the 2025 Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards

Time to Open up About Mental Health During COVID-19

Making 2022 The ‘Year of Retention’

UnTapped 2025 is here, and our Super Seven finalists are thirsty for success!

The Opportunity Provider and Scrumptious Marketing Announce Strategic Employer Branding Partnership

Untapped competition: Meet the 2024 Rising Stars of Brewing

Creating a Learn-it-All Culture

How to Minimise Kitchen Food Waste

There is a New Star in the Hospitality Industry

HIT Training Offers Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship to Drive Business Improvement

Developing an Apprenticeship Strategy

HIT Heroes Award Winners 2022

HIT Training Ltd Embarks on the Journey to Net Zero with Planet Mark Certification

Brewer Apprenticeship Graduation Event: Celebrating Brewing Talent and Achievement

HIT Heroes Award Winners 2023

The Future Hospitality Workforce: What Will it Look Like Following COVID-19?

HIT Training and BII Collaborate on a Series of Ready to Reopen Webinars

Flavour of Success at The Restaurant Show

Industry Collaboration Launches Talent Hub to Inspire and Retain Next Generation of Hospitality Professionals

Sodexo partners with HIT to gift £250k of levy to support hospitality apprentices

Introducing the Executive Development Network (EDN)

HIT Heroes Apprentice and Employer of The Year 2020 Announced

HIT supports new platform to promote pub and hospitality careers

What Are Flexible Apprenticeships?

How to Manage Stress: Stress Awareness Month 2021

Functional Skills: The Cornerstone of Apprenticeships

‘The Super Six’ Unveiled

The Real Barrier to Exceptional Hospitality Isn’t What You Think

HIT Training Ltd Receives ‘Good’ Ofsted Rating for 14th Consecutive Year

New National Chef of the Year is unveiled in front of industry elite

How the ‘Mini-Budget’ Supports Employers, Training and Skills Development

HIT Training Ltd Wins Excellence in English and Maths Skills Development at the Apprenticeship and Training Awards

Center Parcs Celebrates Apprentice Trailblazers

Integrating Plant Based Food into your Menu

HIT Training Ltd Welcomes Government Reforms to Functional Skills and Shorter Apprenticeships

Managing Stress Levels in the Midst of a Global Pandemic

Culture of Craft – The Rise of the Craft Apprenticeship

How to Solve Your Staffing Problems with Apprenticeships

Untapped – HIT Training’s Brewer Apprentice Competition

HIT Training Elevates Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion by Becoming Patrons of the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance

The Benefits of Learning at Work for your Business and Workforce

HIT produces 1500 free meals on National Hospitality Day

Medals All Round for our Fired Up Four!

Championing Change in Functional Skills

HIT partners with Hospitality Jobs UK to form new recruitment partnership

HIT Training Named in Times Top 100 Best Companies to Work for

Boost Your Mental Health Through Small Acts of Kindness

Research Reveals a Positive Change in Perceptions of Hospitality Careers

Budget Reflections: Key Impacts on Skills and Training

It’s Time to Take Unnecessary Food Waste off the Menu

HIT Training Ltd announces new Managing Director Mike Worley

Don’t Waste: The Future of Hospitality

HIT Celebrates Hospitality Day

HIT’s UnTapped Brewer Competition is back for 2025

Free online assessment to help employers shape their workforce

We Are Now a Planet Mark Certified Business

Hospitality Unites to Launch New Graduate Apprenticeship Programme

A Year of Achievement: HIT celebrates its first year under employee ownership.

Sign up to news, events and great resources