HIT Heroes
Unmasking talent in the hospitality
and retail industry
Celebrating the Heroes of Apprenticeships
Welcome to the HIT Training Heroes Awards – where we celebrate the exceptional apprentices and employers shaping the future of hospitality and retail.
Every month, our local teams honour individuals and employers who bring energy, creativity, and leadership to their apprenticeships and workplaces. These awards spotlight the real stories behind the qualifications – recognising those who go above and beyond to deliver outstanding service, inspire others, and drive positive change in their industries.
To become a HIT Training Hero, learners and employers must be nominated by their local HIT Training team – a true mark of excellence and impact.
Giving Back Through Recognition
Every recognised Hero chooses a charity to receive a £10 donation. These small acts of kindness add up – creating real impact in communities across the UK.
Our Charities
Supporting young people into careers in hospitality, leisure and tourism through education and training.
Only a Pavement Away is a charity founded by representatives from the hospitality industry who believe that everyone deserves the chance to find and forge a career.
Launched in May 2019 The Burnt Chef Project was setup with the sole intention of eradicating mental health stigma within hospitality.
So far we have raised:
£410
Hall of fame
Meet the Heroes – learners and employers recognised for their dedication, passion, and impact.
Roll over cards to view more details
Employer
Joshua Thompson
Hospitality
Region
North East
Joshua Thompson's Story
Joshua has a very good understanding of apprentice Touria helping her with activity sheets and the portfolio of evidence but also makes sure she has a good understanding of the topic. Joshua follows the employer toolkit so Touria does all of her Off The Job Hours in work time and has created his own development plan for her to cover the portfolio requirements.
Employer
Laura Shakeshaft
Hospitality
Region
North East
Laura Shakeshaft's Story
Laura represent everything apprenticeships are about - dedication, support, and a shared passion for success. Her unwavering commitment, encouragement, and care ensure her team feel supported not only in their work but also in their personal growth.
Learner
Sophie Maltby
Hospitality
Region
South
Sophie Maltby's Story
Since starting her apprenticeship in January 2025, Sophie has been an exemplary learner - consistently engaged, highly motivated, and excelling in her front-of-house role at this much-loved venue.
Learner
Cara Evans
Hospitality
Region
South West
Cara Evans's Story
Cara has developed at remarkable pace, building confidence, taking on increasing responsibility, and quickly becoming a vital presence within the organisation.
Employer
Damian Griffiths
Hospitality
Region
South West
Damian Griffiths's Story
Damian is a passionate champion of apprenticeships, ensuring his team have meaningful opportunities to learn, progress and build confidence. He supports learners at every stage accommodating their needs and celebrates their achievements.
Learner
Keegan Swann
Hospitality
Region
South East
Keegan Swann's Story
Throughout his apprenticeship Keegan has shown outstanding commitment - always submitting work on time, embracing feedback and seizing every opportunity to develop.
Learner
Charley Buttress
Hospitality
Region
South West
Charley Buttress's Story
From managing stock and ordering to supporting functions and helping interview new team members, Charley has remained a steady and respected presence in her workplace. She has continued to engage with her apprenticeship, diligently working on her portfolio and expanding her skills.
Employer
Banks Restaurant
Hospitality
Region
South
Banks Restaurant's Story
Head Chef Mitch puts on an "apprentice menu" every other Thursday night so that Banks' Restaurant apprentices can practice dishes for their Apprenticeship.
Learner
Sky Wall
Hospitality
Region
South
Sky Wall's Story
Sky's big milestone was achieved when she attended her Speaking & Listening exam, where, as the youngest participant, she gave a fantastic presentation about her art with amazing confidence and passion.
Learner
Scott Lane
Hospitality
Region
South Gloucester
Scott Lane's Story
From the very start of his apprenticeship, Scott has demonstrated dedication, enthusiasm, and a real commitment to his development, and it’s been wonderful to see how much he has grown. As he now moves towards his end‑point assessment, I have every confidence that his hard work and determination will lead him to a successful outcome.
Learner
Thomas Clark
Hospitality
Region
West Midlands
Thomas Clark's Story
Tom has progressed consistently on his HOM L5 qualification, demonstrating his skills in managing financial budgets, building relationships with his school clients, overseeing a number of schools, including high schools, colleges, and primary schools, and being able to adjust his approach to work with diverse teams and different audiences.
Learner
Gary Boundary
Hospitality
Region
Midlands
Gary Boundary's Story
A proactive and dedicated learner, Gary consistently completes his work to a high standard and goes above and beyond with personal research.
Learner
Lawson Bloom
Hospitality
Region
South
Lawson Bloom's Story
With the support of our specialist SENDCo team, Lawson’s determination has never wavered. He’s building his portfolio, growing in confidence and proving that passion and perseverance lead to success. His hard work has been recognised as he’s been named Learner of the Month by the Chilterns team!
Learner
Sophie Maltby
Hospitality
Region
South
Sophie Maltby's Story
Since starting her apprenticeship in January 2025, Sophie has been an exemplary learner - consistently engaged, highly motivated, and excelling in her front-of-house role at this much-loved venue.
Learner
Cara Evans
Hospitality
Region
South West
Cara Evans's Story
Cara has developed at remarkable pace, building confidence, taking on increasing responsibility, and quickly becoming a vital presence within the organisation.
Learner
Keegan Swann
Hospitality
Region
South East
Keegan Swann's Story
Throughout his apprenticeship Keegan has shown outstanding commitment - always submitting work on time, embracing feedback and seizing every opportunity to develop.
Learner
Charley Buttress
Hospitality
Region
South West
Charley Buttress's Story
From managing stock and ordering to supporting functions and helping interview new team members, Charley has remained a steady and respected presence in her workplace. She has continued to engage with her apprenticeship, diligently working on her portfolio and expanding her skills.
Learner
Sky Wall
Hospitality
Region
South
Sky Wall's Story
Sky's big milestone was achieved when she attended her Speaking & Listening exam, where, as the youngest participant, she gave a fantastic presentation about her art with amazing confidence and passion.
Learner
Ben Hargreaves
Hospitality
Region
Midlands
Ben Hargreaves's Story
Ben is an advocate for apprenticeships. Ben has supported his team and developed their talent through continuing to give them the opportunity to achieve an apprenticeship.
Learner
Emilijus Kregzde
Hospitality
Region
North East
Emilijus Kregzde's Story
Despite English not being his first language, Emilijus has successfully achieved English Level 2 alongside completing a challenging Level 4 Senior Culinary Chef apprenticeship. He has attended every session, completed all tasks on time, and has built an impressive portfolio.
Employer
James Hinton
Culinary
Region
The Chilterns
James Hinton's Story
James has played an instrumental role in helping apprentice Will build his portfolio, setting tasks to develop his knowledge and skills and attending every visit, including teaching and learning sessions. His proactive approach and commitment to Will’s success have made a huge difference.
Employer
Kyle Quinn
Culinary
Region
South
Kyle Quinn's Story
Recognising Kyle Quinell for his outstanding support of learner Guy, a 17-year-old in his first role since leaving school. Thanks to Kyle’s dedication, Guy is on track to complete his apprenticeship on time at the end of September.
Employer
Ben Gibbons
Hospitality
Region
South
Ben Gibbons's Story
Ben has had a number of apprentices on program and also encourages progression as well. Ben is extremely committed to providing the best experiences for his apprentices.
Employer
Joe Taylor
Hospitality
Region
South East
Joe Taylor's Story
Joe at The Gub Pub is always ready to help any and all of their learners. They are always working hard to upskill, giving them opportunities to expand their knowledge, skills or behaviours.
Employer
Daisy Hunnisett
Hospitality
Region
South East
Daisy Hunnisett's Story
A huge milestone for Daisy was her achievement in Functional Skills: starting at Entry Level 3, she has successfully PASSED Level 2 Maths - a remarkable accomplishment!
Employer
Joshua Thompson
Hospitality
Region
North East
Joshua Thompson's Story
Joshua has a very good understanding of apprentice Touria helping her with activity sheets and the portfolio of evidence but also makes sure she has a good understanding of the topic. Joshua follows the employer toolkit so Touria does all of her Off The Job Hours in work time and has created his own development plan for her to cover the portfolio requirements.
Employer
Laura Shakeshaft
Hospitality
Region
North East
Laura Shakeshaft's Story
Laura represent everything apprenticeships are about - dedication, support, and a shared passion for success. Her unwavering commitment, encouragement, and care ensure her team feel supported not only in their work but also in their personal growth.
Employer
Damian Griffiths
Hospitality
Region
South West
Damian Griffiths's Story
Damian is a passionate champion of apprenticeships, ensuring his team have meaningful opportunities to learn, progress and build confidence. He supports learners at every stage accommodating their needs and celebrates their achievements.
Employer
Banks Restaurant
Hospitality
Region
South
Banks Restaurant's Story
Head Chef Mitch puts on an "apprentice menu" every other Thursday night so that Banks' Restaurant apprentices can practice dishes for their Apprenticeship.
Employer
RAF Shawbury (Compass)
Hospitality
Region
West Midlands
RAF Shawbury (Compass)'s Story
The support that RAF Shawsbury (Compass) offer apprentices is next level, and have a long standing relationship with HIT.
Employer
St Monica Trust
Hospitality
Region
South West
St Monica Trust's Story
St Monica’s Trust is a leading organisation recognised for its dedicated staff who go above and beyond to create meaningful relationships with residents and customers.
The Trust has truly embraced apprenticeships at every level - from foundation programmes to higher qualifications in Health & Social Care, Business Administration, Operations Management and Hospitality. Their commitment is clear, not only in the consistent support given to apprentices but also in the way they have championed apprenticeships to senior management, highlighting the lasting value of ongoing training and development.
Explore Apprenticeships
Inspired by our Heroes? Discover how apprenticeships in hospitality and retail can help you grow your career or support your team.
Contact & Get Involved
Want to learn more or get involved with HIT Training? We’d love to hear from you.
