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


HIT Training Ltd joined businesses from across the UK in an initiative to help Britain and its most vulnerable citizens to pull through the coronavirus crisis. Former Cabinet Minister, Rt Hon Justine Greening, has launched the C-19 Business Pledge with entrepreneur David Harrison. The national scheme encourages employers to join the coronavirus effort by pledging to help their employees, customers and communities across Britain get through the crisis.

It is targeting not just the immediate challenges of coronavirus, but also the challenges of recovery. It comes after Justine received a huge response from businesses and universities getting in touch with her and willing to be part of a national effort. The initiative has already received the backing of employers representing over 1.5 million staff and students.

As well as HIT Training, they include BP, Everton Football Club, National Grid, DLA Piper, Severn Trent Water, national investment firm True Potential, global publishing firm Emerald Group and software provider, Advanced. Also on board are tech giant Konica Minolta, Yorkshire-based Sewell Group and law firm Shoosmiths. Universities have also risen to the challenge, meanwhile, with Bolton Group, Bradford, Bishop Grosseteste, Brunel, Northampton, York St John, Staffordshire and Leeds Beckett Universities all putting pledges forward.

Employers who sign up to the pledge give their backing to three main objectives built around employees, customers and communities. They will not only help Britain through the immediate challenges of coronavirus, but also through its recovery.

  • Firstly, to support their own employees throughout and beyond this challenging time. For example, this could include practical support and advice on financial security, mental health, personal wellbeing as well as reintegration back into work for those who have experienced an extended period away from the workplace.
  • Secondly, to publish clear and simple advice for customers. Where possible they could have specialist teams dedicated to supporting customers if they are having problems, such as those facing repayment difficulties and vulnerable customers, as RBS has done. 
  • Thirdly, doing what they can to help communities in Britain through the epidemic. Over the coming months we are likely to see a sharp increase in isolation, loneliness, mental health and household financial issues in our communities across the country. There will be an increased need for communities to come together with practical support, such as food deliveries, collections and financial assistance for organisations that specialise in supporting vulnerable people. 

Justine Greening said: “With the future of many employers hanging in the balance and incredibly tough times unfolding in sectors across the UK, businesses face many incredibly difficult decisions. But those organisations who are able, can have a huge role in battling the impact of coronavirus and make a real difference in these uniquely challenging times.

“In spite of everything, lots of employers have already shown amazing initiative and commitment to helping people affected by coronavirus. The C-19 Business Pledge is all about encouraging as many businesses and universities as possible to get involved and then helping them do that faster and better by sharing all the great work that’s already been done. The early response has been incredible and I’ll do everything I can to help to connect up British business to play its role.”

Jill Whittaker, Managing Director of HIT Training, added: “With such challenging and uncertain times ahead, businesses need to be agile and responsive in order to protect the future of our industries, our people and the wider community.

“As a training provider, we firmly believe that skills development must continue, despite many businesses being forced to close and a great number of employees furloughed. To support our clients and their apprentices during this challenging time and into the future, we have made a long-term commitment to offer all training courses online. We’ve also developed a bank of free online resources, which include practical advice on continuing effective learning at home, as well as support on protecting mental health and wellbeing. Taking this further, we’ve collaborated with HospoLive, a free Facebook video stream that has already attracted over 80,000 viewers, to offer free online training courses for the wider hospitality industry.

“We’ve also launched a volunteering scheme so that our employees can support the community and make a positive difference during such challenging times – whether that’s a weekly phone call with an elderly neighbour, or shopping and delivering supplies to those in need.”

For more on the C-19 Business Pledge visit www.c19businesspledge.org


Why we Need Apprenticeships to Build the Future

Hospitality Employers Back Shorter Apprenticeships as HIT Launches New Working Group

Leading the Way: Long Awaited Production Chef Apprenticeship is Launched

Women in beer are brewing up change

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

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

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

‘The Super Six’ Unveiled

Free online assessment to help employers shape their workforce

The Importance of a Mentor for Apprentices

We Are Now a Planet Mark Certified Business

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

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

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

Mental Health Awareness Week – Dealing with Anxiety

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

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

National Inclusion Week 2024: Why Impact Matters in Apprenticeships

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

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

Boost Your Mental Health Through Small Acts of Kindness

Making 2022 The ‘Year of Retention’

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

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

Update to our company name

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

HIT Heroes Award Winners 2022

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

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

Election priorities: Fixing the apprenticeship levy by Jill Whittaker OBE

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

HIT Training Ltd strengthens its board with four new Directors

Time to Open up About Mental Health During COVID-19

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

The Power of Adding Plant-Based to your Menu

Supporting Employers During the Economic Recovery

The Benefits of Learning at Work for your Business and Workforce

HIT Training Wins Award for Championing Social Mobility Through Apprenticeships

Research Reveals a Positive Change in Perceptions of Hospitality Careers

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

There’s No Age Limit to Invaluable Training

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

What we Can Learn from the Industry About Infection Control

Flavour of Success at The Restaurant Show

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

Developing an Apprenticeship Strategy

Untapped competition: Meet the 2024 Rising Stars of Brewing

Culture of Craft – The Rise of the Craft Apprenticeship

New Principal appointed to HIT Chef Academy

Hospitality Apprenticeships Week 2021 to Showcase Industry as #Morethanajob

HIT Heroes Award Winners Announced for 2021

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

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

Brewer Apprenticeship Graduation Event: Celebrating Brewing Talent and Achievement

How to Offer a Degree Apprenticeship for Employers

HIT supports new platform to promote pub and hospitality careers

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

HIT’s exciting brewing competition is back for 2024

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

Flexi-apprenticeships are the Answer to the Dwindling Hospitality Workforce

What Are Flexible Apprenticeships?

New movement to tackle gender inequality in the kitchen

HIT Launches New Fish Friers Apprenticeship

HIT’s UnTapped Brewer Competition is back for 2025

Don’t Waste: The Future of Hospitality

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

HIT Training Ltd Receives Matrix Standard

The Apprenticeship Levy One Year on

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

Hospitality Apprentices Impress at HIT Masterchef Finals

What employers need to know about new funding rules

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

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

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

Untapped – HIT Training’s Brewer Apprentice Competition

HIT partners with Hospitality Jobs UK to form new recruitment partnership

HIT Heroes Award Winners 2023

Educate Your Team on the Mental Health Benefits of Food

From First Job to Future Career

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

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

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

HIT celebrates new tri-nation partnership

It’s ‘Time to Talk’

HIT Training Ltd moves to employee ownership

HIT Retains One Third of Staff for Over 10 Years

‘Forward with Marcus Wareing’ programme expands following huge success

What are apprenticeships? A guide for employers.

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

HIT Training Offers Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship to Drive Business Improvement

Employer Newsletter – We’re here to stay

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

Medals All Round for our Fired Up Four!

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

How to Inspire Young People to Choose a Career in Hospitality

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

An Industry Collaboration

National Apprenticeship Awards 2020 – Open for Entries!

How to Overcome Misconceptions and Unleash Employee Potential

Sign up to news, events and great resources