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


Hospitality and retail are sectors that provide perfect entry routes into the world of work, offering young people the opportunity to build confidence, develop essential skills, and begin long-term careers in fast-paced, customer-facing environments.

For employers, this presents both opportunity and challenge. While these sectors are well suited to developing early talent, identifying the right individuals and supporting them effectively through the early stages of employment requires structure, insight, and expertise.

At HIT Training, we understand that successful recruitment is just the beginning. That is why we offer a fully supported, end-to-end apprenticeship service for hospitality and retail employers, helping businesses not only attract the right candidates, but also onboard, train, and develop them into confident, capable professionals.

Building on this approach, HIT Training has now launched a new intelligent apprenticeship recruitment service in partnership with urfuture, designed to transform how employers identify and develop early talent in hospitality and retail.

A smarter, more predictive approach to recruitment

Working in partnership with urfuture, HIT Training uses behavioural science, structured assessment, and expert insight to build a clearer picture of each candidate, helping employers understand not just who is applying, but who is most likely to succeed, stay, and progress within the industry.

Rather than relying on traditional shortlisting alone, the service explores candidates at a deeper level through behavioural science, structured assessment, and motivational insight.

Understanding what drives long-term success

At the core of the model is behavioural and motivational insight, helping employers identify candidates whose values and working styles align with their organisation and the realities of hospitality and retail environments.

This includes:

  • Hygiene factors, such as working environment, stability, flexibility, and management style, key elements that influence whether an individual feels supported and able to perform
  • Intrinsic motivators, including enjoyment of customer interaction, teamwork, personal pride, and contributing to a positive customer experience
  • Extrinsic motivators, such as progression opportunities, recognition, achievement, and longer-term career development

By combining these insights, HIT Training and urfuture provide a more complete understanding of candidate potential, supporting more confident and informed hiring decisions, while strengthening long-term workforce stability.

A fully supported end-to-end apprenticeship journey

The intelligent recruitment service sits within HIT Training’s wider commitment to supporting employers across the full apprenticeship journey.

This includes:

  • Attracting and identifying suitable apprentice candidates through intelligent recruitment
  • Supporting onboarding to ensure a smooth and confident transition into the workplace
  • Delivering structured apprenticeship training tailored to hospitality and retail roles
  • Providing ongoing development and clear career progression pathways
  • Helping employers access apprenticeship funding and government incentives where applicable

By bringing recruitment, training, and funding support together in one joined-up service, HIT Training helps reduce complexity for employers while improving outcomes for apprentices.

Building stronger futures for hospitality and retail

In sectors where people are central to success, getting recruitment right has never been more important.

By combining intelligent candidate insight with expert training and long-term support, HIT Training is helping hospitality and retail employers build stronger, more resilient teams while giving apprentices the best possible start to their careers.

Through its partnership with urfuture, this new service represents a shift towards more thoughtful, data-informed recruitment, focused not just on filling roles, but on identifying and developing people who can grow, succeed, and stay within the industry.

Discover smarter recruitment. Speak to our team: https://hittraining.co.uk/your-partner-in-hospitality-retail-recruitment/


How to Inspire Young People to Choose a Career in Hospitality

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

Election priorities: Fixing the apprenticeship levy by Jill Whittaker OBE

The Opportunity Provider (TOP) ranked 28th in The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers

We Are Now a Planet Mark Certified Business

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

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

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

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

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

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

From First Job to Future Career

Educate Your Team on the Mental Health Benefits of Food

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

An Industry Collaboration

Making 2022 The ‘Year of Retention’

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

HIT Training Launches Free Workshops to Help Close the Chef Skills Gap in the Capital

HIT Training Wins Award for Championing Social Mobility Through Apprenticeships

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

Flexi-apprenticeships are the Answer to the Dwindling Hospitality Workforce

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

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

HIT Celebrates Hospitality Day

‘The Super Six’ Unveiled

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

Hospitality Apprentices Impress at HIT Masterchef Finals

How to Offer a Degree Apprenticeship for Employers

National Inclusion Week 2024: Why Impact Matters in Apprenticeships

The Importance of a Mentor for Apprentices

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

Medals All Round for our Fired Up Four!

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

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

HIT supports new platform to promote pub and hospitality careers

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

What are apprenticeships? A guide for employers.

HIT Launches New Fish Friers Apprenticeship

Two HIT Apprentices Make MasterChef Finals

Research Reveals a Positive Change in Perceptions of Hospitality Careers

HIT Training LTD Receives Royal Recognition for Outstanding Training Impact

HIT Heroes Award Winners Announced for 2021

Integrating Plant Based Food into your Menu

Train your staff through hospitality apprenticeships

New movement to tackle gender inequality in the kitchen

New Graduate Apprenticeship Launched to Build Future Hospitality Leaders

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

Omicron and COVID Plan B Update

Access Global Opportunities for Your Apprentices

Don’t Waste: The Future of Hospitality

Free online assessment to help employers shape their workforce

Meet our six Salon Culinaire apprentices!

Working together with the New Government

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

HIT Training Apprentice Becomes First to Achieve New Hospitality Supervisor Apprenticeship

Introducing the Executive Development Network (EDN)

Creating a Learn-it-All Culture

Do Hospitality Careers Need a Rebrand?

New Hospitality Academy Launches to Tackle Industry Challenges and Raise Service Standards

Women in beer are brewing up change

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

Brewer Apprentices Celebrate Success at 2025 Graduation and Untapped Awards

Stepping Up – It’s Time to Earn your Stripes

Hospitality Unites to Launch New Graduate Apprenticeship Programme

HIT Training Offers Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship to Drive Business Improvement

Flavour of Success at The Restaurant Show

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

HIT Training Ltd strengthens its board with four new Directors

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

HIT’s Executive Chair Jill Whittaker OBE wins award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Industry’

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

HIT Training Ltd moves to employee ownership

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

HIT partners with Hospitality Jobs UK to form new recruitment partnership

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

The Benefits of Learning at Work for your Business and Workforce

HIT Training Recognised at the Foodservice Cateys 2018

HIT’s UnTapped Brewer Competition is back for 2025

HIT produces 1500 free meals on National Hospitality Day

Jill Whittaker Takes Top Honour at the 2024 Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards

Center Parcs Celebrates Apprentice Trailblazers

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

What employers need to know about new funding rules

Untapped – HIT Training’s Brewer Apprentice Competition

Hospitality Apprenticeships Week 2021 to Showcase Industry as #Morethanajob

How to Overcome Misconceptions and Unleash Employee Potential

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

HIT Retains One Third of Staff for Over 10 Years

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

What Are Flexible Apprenticeships?

HIT Training Recognised at the TES FE Awards 2018

Deliveroo Launches New Chef Apprenticeship Fund to Tackle Skills Shortage

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

How to Manage Stress: Stress Awareness Month 2021

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

Brewer Apprenticeship Graduation Event: Celebrating Brewing Talent and Achievement

Boost Your Mental Health Through Small Acts of Kindness

Culture of Craft – The Rise of the Craft Apprenticeship

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

Sign up to news, events and great resources