Center Parcs Celebrates Apprentice Trailblazers


Center Parcs, the home of family short breaks, celebrated its first ever apprenticeship graduation this month, which saw 92% of the graduates achieve a distinction or merit.

36 apprentices graduated at Center Parcs Sherwood Forest with a Level 3 Team Leader Apprenticeship, alongside an Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) Level 3 Diploma in Management.

With high occupancy rates and a passion for wowing its guests, Center Parcs continually invests in the development of its workforce to ensure high standards are met across its villages. As such, Center Parcs has been working with HIT Training since 2017 to run the Level 3 Team Leader Apprenticeship standard – one of the first in the country since the new standards came in.

Since the introduction of the apprenticeship programme, Center Parcs has seen a 20% shift in either job promotions or transfers amongst the apprentices.

Speaking about the event, Tracey Anderson, Performance and Development Manager at Center Parcs, said: “It was amazing to see our first cohort of apprentices graduate. We are so proud to be growing our own talent, and the results of this apprenticeship course speak for themselves. We now have 36 incredible individuals working across the business who can inspire and tutor others with what they have learnt after 18 months of tailor-made training.

“There was a wonderful collaborative feel to the day, as the graduation ceremony not only celebrated the teamwork that took place between the apprentices themselves, but also the relationship between Center Parcs and HIT, which has gone from strength-to-strength.”

Jill Whittaker, Managing Director at HIT Training, said: “It is fantastic to celebrate the successes of this group of apprentices. We have really enjoyed working collectively with the Center Parcs team from recruitment all the way through to graduation, to produce the next generation of managers. We are committed to delivering inspirational training across the hospitality sector and I am excited to announce that the partnership with Center Parcs will continue in 2020, with at least 150 apprentices being in place across the business.”

During the graduation ceremony, the apprentices heard from Center Parcs’ Chief Financial Officer, Colin McKinlay, who shared advice on the importance of learning and development. Center Parcs Sherwood Forest’s General Manager, Lisa Broome, also took to the stage to present the Level Three Apprentice Award, which was awarded to the Center Parcs Elveden Forest Cohort. Self-nominated awards were also made to one apprentice from each Center Parcs Cohort.

The day ended with lunch and a toast to the apprentices, giving the chance for them to sit back, relax and receive the excellent service from Center Parcs, something they normally provide to others.


Harness the Power of Plant Based: One Bite at a Time

HIT Training LTD Receives Royal Recognition for Outstanding Training Impact

How to Manage Stress: Stress Awareness Month 2021

HIT Heroes Award Winners Announced for 2021

A Listening Ear Makes All the Difference: World Suicide Prevention Day

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

Mental Health Awareness Week – Dealing with Anxiety

‘The Super Six’ Unveiled

Flexi-apprenticeships are the Answer to the Dwindling Hospitality Workforce

Women in beer are brewing up change

Hospitality Employers Back Shorter Apprenticeships as HIT Launches New Working Group

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

HIT Training Ltd Celebrates Prestigious Gold Membership of The 5% Club for Second Year Running

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

HIT Retains One Third of Staff for Over 10 Years

How to Solve Your Staffing Problems with Apprenticeships

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

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

Developing an Apprenticeship Strategy

HIT Training Ltd Earns Prestigious Gold Membership in The 5% Club

HIT Training Ltd moves to employee ownership

What is the Apprenticeship Levy?

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

Government announces major youth employment drive and apprenticeship reforms

Stepping Up – It’s Time to Earn your Stripes

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

HIT’s UnTapped Brewer Competition is back for 2025

Britain’s First Job Problem: Why Career Starter Sectors Matter

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

Gravetye Manor chef takes the top spot in Young National Chef of the Year

HIT Heroes Award Winners 2023

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

HIT Training Recognised at the TES FE Awards 2018

Vacherin’s Nick Smith Crowned Winner of the Craft Guild of Chefs’ National Chef of the Year

Brewer Apprentices Celebrate Success at 2025 Graduation and Untapped Awards

HIT Training Ltd Receives Matrix Standard

How to Offer a Degree Apprenticeship for Employers

How to Inspire Young People to Choose a Career in Hospitality

Hospitality Apprentices Impress at HIT Masterchef Finals

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

HIT Celebrates Hospitality Day

We Are Now a Planet Mark Certified Business

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

HIT Untapped competition: Meet the 2026 Stars of Brewing

New Principal appointed to HIT Chef Academy

National Apprenticeship Awards 2020 – Open for Entries!

Time to Open up About Mental Health During COVID-19

Managing Stress Levels in the Midst of a Global Pandemic

Flavour of Success at The Restaurant Show

Hospitality Unites to Launch New Graduate Apprenticeship Programme

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

Budget Reflections: Key Impacts on Skills and Training

How to Minimise Kitchen Food Waste

What employers need to know about new funding rules

HIT Heroes Award Winners 2022

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

Winners of Fired Up and Un-Tapped Apprentice Competitions 2023 announced

It’s ‘Time to Talk’

HIT Training Wins Award for Championing Social Mobility Through Apprenticeships

HIT Training Ltd Wins Prestigious Apprenticeship Provider of the Year Award for the Second Consecutive Year

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

The Newt in Somerset Unveils ‘Elevate’ – A Bespoke Hospitality Academy in partnership with HIT Training

Rising stars named in prestigious Young National Chef of the Year semi-final line-up

Untapped – HIT Training’s Brewer Apprentice Competition

Update to our company name

How to Overcome Misconceptions and Unleash Employee Potential

The Young National Chef of the Year Finalists Have Been Revealed

Research Reveals a Positive Change in Perceptions of Hospitality Careers

HIT produces 1500 free meals on National Hospitality Day

Culture of Craft – The Rise of the Craft Apprenticeship

Turn a first job into a future career with a foundation apprenticeship

Integrating Plant Based Food into your Menu

Institute of Hospitality and HIT Training Invest in the Industry’s Future

Crunch Time: Over Half of Hospitality Businesses Risk Losing their Apprenticeship Levy Fund

Why we Need Apprenticeships to Build the Future

HIT Training Ltd. Publishes White Paper on Apprenticeship Reforms and Workforce Development

HIT Training Features for Fourth Time in The Sunday Times’ Top 100 Best Companies to Work for’

HIT Training welcomes Government’s Fully Funded Apprenticeship Initiative for Small Businesses

HIT Training Ltd Signs New Business Drive to Help The Nation Through COVID-19 Crisis

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

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

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

HIT Training Offers Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship to Drive Business Improvement

Untapped competition: Meet the 2024 Rising Stars of Brewing

Omicron and COVID Plan B Update

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

HIT Training Apprentice Becomes First to Achieve New Hospitality Supervisor Apprenticeship

Grow your team with retail apprenticeships

Three Signs your Employees are Reaching Burnout – and How to Support Them

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

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

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

Introducing the New Normal for HIT’s Apprenticeship Delivery

Access Global Opportunities for Your Apprentices

Medals All Round for our Fired Up Four!

Educate Your Team on the Mental Health Benefits of Food

Free online assessment to help employers shape their workforce

The Benefits of Learning at Work for your Business and Workforce

Leading the Way: Long Awaited Production Chef Apprenticeship is Launched

HIT supports new platform to promote pub and hospitality careers

Sign up to news, events and great resources