Jill Whittaker Takes Top Honour at the 2024 Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards


Jill Whittaker Takes Top Honour at the 2024 Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards

It was a night to remember at Birmingham’s NEC as over 800 guests gathered to applaud the UK’s best apprentices and the organisations championing their success at the 9th annual Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards. Hosted by The Pathway Group in collaboration with Pearson, the event celebrated those making a real difference in the world of apprenticeships.

The awards recognise the talent and diversity within Further Education, honouring those who work hard to overcome adversity and achieve their goals through apprenticeships. Following a record-breaking number of nominations, this year’s celebration was bigger than ever, with 30 awards for outstanding apprentices, employers, learning providers, and champions in the sector recognised for their achievements.

The spotlight shone brightly on Jill Whittaker, our Executive Chair, as she received the prestigious Overall Contribution to Apprenticeships award! With over 25 years of dedication to apprenticeships, Jill has made it her mission to open up learning opportunities for everyone, regardless of their background or needs. Co-founding HIT Training Ltd in 2006 as an independent training provider, her vision and commitment has helped countless individuals from diverse backgrounds access life-changing career pathways.

With apprentices, training providers, and employers gathered under one roof, the evening celebrated their achievements and championed the awards’ mission: to honour the strength, diversity and resilience within Further Education and to celebrate those breaking down barriers through apprenticeships.

Addressing the audience towards the close of the event, Founder of The Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards and CEO of Pathway Group, Safaraz Ali, said: “This year our awards have once again seen a substantial uptake in the quantity of nominations submitted, and having such a wealth of dedication and talent gathered here is an inspiring reflection of that. A warm thank you to everyone who has contributed to making this event an extraordinary success.”

Congratulations to Jill and all of this year’s winners for their incredible contributions!


Employer Newsletter – We’re here to stay

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

Functional Skills: The Cornerstone of Apprenticeships

New movement to tackle gender inequality in the kitchen

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

Hospitality Employers Back Shorter Apprenticeships as HIT Launches New Working Group

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

The Benefits of Learning at Work for your Business and Workforce

An Industry Collaboration

How to Overcome Misconceptions and Unleash Employee Potential

John Hyde Scoops Special Recognition Award

Grow your team with retail apprenticeships

Culture of Craft – The Rise of the Craft Apprenticeship

HIT’s UnTapped Brewer Competition is back for 2025

The Young National Chef of the Year Finalists Have Been Revealed

HIT Heroes Winners Unveiled in Celebration Event

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

‘The Super Six’ Unveiled

Flavour of Success at The Restaurant Show

Managing Stress Levels in the Midst of a Global Pandemic

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

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

Brewer Apprenticeship Graduation Event: Celebrating Brewing Talent and Achievement

HIT Launches New Fish Friers Apprenticeship

HIT Training First to Launch New Qualification for Health and Social Care Sector

HIT Training Recognised at the TES FE Awards 2018

What Are Flexible Apprenticeships?

There is a New Star in the Hospitality Industry

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

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

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

Do Hospitality Careers Need a Rebrand?

HIT Training Receives Matrix Accreditation

Stepping Up – It’s Time to Earn your Stripes

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

Join us for a summer of learning at HIT Training!

Deliveroo Launches New Chef Apprenticeship Fund to Tackle Skills Shortage

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

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

Hospitality Unites to Launch New Graduate Apprenticeship Programme

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

Government announces major youth employment drive and apprenticeship reforms

HIT Heroes Apprentice and Employer of The Year 2020 Announced

Meet our six Salon Culinaire apprentices!

Train your staff through hospitality apprenticeships

HIT’s exciting brewing competition is back for 2024

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

What is the Apprenticeship Levy?

Introducing the New Normal for HIT’s Apprenticeship Delivery

Center Parcs Celebrates Apprentice Trailblazers

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

How to Solve Your Staffing Problems with Apprenticeships

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

New Principal appointed to HIT Chef Academy

‘Forward with Marcus Wareing’ programme expands following huge success

The Power of Adding Plant-Based to your Menu

Integrating Plant Based Food into your Menu

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

Budget Reflections: Key Impacts on Skills and Training

How to Offer a Degree Apprenticeship for Employers

Research Reveals a Positive Change in Perceptions of Hospitality Careers

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

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

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

The Apprenticeship Levy One Year on

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

Introducing the Executive Development Network (EDN)

HIT Training Apprentice Becomes First to Achieve New Hospitality Supervisor Apprenticeship

There’s No Age Limit to Invaluable Training

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

How to Inspire Young People to Choose a Career in Hospitality

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

HIT partners with Hospitality Jobs UK to form new recruitment partnership

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

Untapped – HIT Training’s Brewer Apprentice Competition

HIT Training LTD Receives Royal Recognition for Outstanding Training Impact

Helping Neurodiverse Professionals Succeed in Hospitality

Hospitality Apprentices Impress at HIT Masterchef Finals

HIT Celebrates Hospitality Day

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

We Are Now a Planet Mark Certified Business

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

Omicron and COVID Plan B Update

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

Mental Health Awareness Week – Dealing with Anxiety

Access Global Opportunities for Your Apprentices

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

HIT Heroes Award Winners 2023

HIT Training Ltd strengthens its board with four new Directors

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

HIT produces 1500 free meals on National Hospitality Day

Boost Your Mental Health Through Small Acts of Kindness

Hospitality Apprenticeship Showcase 2021 goes Online

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

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

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

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

Time to Open up About Mental Health During COVID-19

HIT Training Offers Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship to Drive Business Improvement

Sign up to news, events and great resources