HIT Heroes Award Winners 2022


We are thrilled to announce the winners of the HIT Heroes Awards – and would like to congratulate each and every one on their amazing success! The judges were bowled over by the standard of this year’s entries and the huge benefits each winner brought to their sectors as a result of their apprenticeship.

Benefits to business

These included an ability to bring new ideas to the workplace, take on leadership roles and mentor junior team members.

Skills learned that particularly impressed judges included event management to encourage repeat business, winning nationally recognised craft beer awards and stepping up as sole manager of a new site. These are just a few of the stories that go to show the fantastic career progression opportunities for apprentices.

As you may have seen, the names of the winners and stories of their outstanding contributions to industry were revealed during National Apprenticeship Week to highlight the important role that apprenticeships play within the hospitality and retail sectors.

“While we know the incredible life-changing impact of apprenticeships on individuals of all ages and walks of life, we are always proud to take this opportunity to celebrate the fantastic work of our apprentices and their employers in our HIT Heroes Awards,” says HIT Training Managing Director Jill Whittaker.

“Once again, despite the current labour market challenges these sectors face, we have not been disappointed by the immense talent on show within hospitality and retail! We would like to congratulate every one of our winners on their huge success.”

The HIT Heroes Awards aims to recognise the amazing work of both apprentices and apprenticeship employers across the country and celebrate the individual drive and development of apprentices to become future hospitality and retail leaders.

We will be highlighting individual stories of all our winners over coming weeks – watch this space – and we will announce our overall apprentice and employer of the year winners on Wednesday 31st May.

HIT Heroes Award Winners 2022

Here is a full list of our incredible winners for 2022:

APPRENTICES:

Zoe Clack – Hospitality Apprentice of the Year – Sponsored by Institute of Hospitality

Jodie Plummer – Chef Apprentice of the Year

Betty Otton – Leadership Apprentice of the Year – Sponsored by Get My First Job

Joe Cullin – Extra Mile Apprentice of the Year – Sponsored by Professional Assessment Ltd

Matthew Lacey – Retail Apprentice of the Year

APPRENTICESHIP EMPLOYERS:

Yorebridge House – Small to Medium Employer of the Year – Sponsored by British Institute of Innkeeping

Compass Group UK & Ireland – Large Employer of the Year – Sponsored by Hospitality Jobs UK

JoJo Maman Bebe – Best Community Outreach Programme – Sponsored by Professional Assessment Ltd

To read the full story of each category winner, go to: hitheroes.co.uk/hall-of-fame


HIT Launches New Fish Friers Apprenticeship

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

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

The Power of Adding Plant-Based to your Menu

Brewer Apprenticeship Graduation Event: Celebrating Brewing Talent and Achievement

Hospitality Unites to Launch New Graduate Apprenticeship Programme

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

What we Can Learn from the Industry About Infection Control

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

HIT Heroes Award Winners Announced for 2021

Don’t Waste: The Future of Hospitality

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

HIT Training Ltd moves to employee ownership

From First Job to Future Career

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

The Clink Charity identifies first candidates for in-prison apprenticeships in partnership with HIT Training

HIT Training Launches Suite of Training Courses and Workshops to Upskill Hospitality Teams

HIT Untapped competition: Meet the 2026 Stars of Brewing

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

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

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

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

What employers need to know about new funding rules

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

Making 2022 The ‘Year of Retention’

HIT Heroes Award Winners 2023

Time to Open up About Mental Health During COVID-19

Update to our company name

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

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

HIT Training Wins Award for Championing Social Mobility Through Apprenticeships

Why we Need Apprenticeships to Build the Future

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

Hospitality Apprenticeship Showcase 2021 goes Online

Flexi-apprenticeships are the Answer to the Dwindling Hospitality Workforce

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

New Principal appointed to HIT Chef Academy

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

Government announces major youth employment drive and apprenticeship reforms

National Inclusion Week 2024: Why Impact Matters in Apprenticeships

HIT Training Receives Matrix Accreditation

Supporting Employers During the Economic Recovery

How to Manage Stress: Stress Awareness Month 2021

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

An Industry Collaboration

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

Flavour of Success at The Restaurant Show

Working together with the New Government

Do Hospitality Careers Need a Rebrand?

HIT Training Ltd announces new Managing Director Mike Worley

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

Join us for a summer of learning at HIT Training!

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

Entries now open for the Craft Guild of Chefs Graduate Awards 2025

Two HIT Apprentices Make MasterChef Finals

HIT Training launches intelligent apprenticeship recruitment service for hospitality and retail, in partnership with urfuture

Boost Your Mental Health Through Small Acts of Kindness

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

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

National Apprenticeship Awards 2020 – Open for Entries!

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

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

Integrating Plant Based Food into your Menu

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

What is the Apprenticeship Levy?

Employer Newsletter – We’re here to stay

HIT celebrates new tri-nation partnership

The Young National Chef of the Year Finalists Have Been Revealed

Free online assessment to help employers shape their workforce

HIT partners with Hospitality Jobs UK to form new recruitment partnership

How to Inspire Young People to Choose a Career in Hospitality

HIT produces 1500 free meals on National Hospitality Day

Grow your team with retail apprenticeships

Hospitality Apprentices Impress at HIT Masterchef Finals

Helping Neurodiverse Professionals Succeed in Hospitality

Employee-owned training group signals long-term commitment to UK skills with new name

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

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

All Change – It’s Time to Reserve Your Apprenticeship Funding!

HIT Training Apprentice Becomes First to Achieve New Hospitality Supervisor Apprenticeship

‘Forward with Marcus Wareing’ programme expands following huge success

Educate Your Team on the Mental Health Benefits of Food

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

Untapped competition: Meet the 2024 Rising Stars of Brewing

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

Hospitality Employers Back Shorter Apprenticeships as HIT Launches New Working Group

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

We Are Now a Planet Mark Certified Business

HIT Training Offers Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship to Drive Business Improvement

Developing an Apprenticeship Strategy

‘The Super Six’ Unveiled

HIT’s exciting brewing competition is back for 2024

Apprentice Drew Dawson Crowned Winner of Toque D’or® 2019

HIT Training develops UK’s first Level 5 Hospitality Operations Manager Apprenticeship

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

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

The Opportunity Provider and Scrumptious Marketing Announce Strategic Employer Branding Partnership

Introducing the Executive Development Network (EDN)

Sodexo Culinary Academy focuses on inspiring and elevating chefs at every level

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

Sign up to news, events and great resources