Jill Whittaker, managing director of HIT Training, has been inducted into the prestigious Women 1st Top 100 Club to recognise her contribution and commitment to the hospitality sector.
The ceremony, which saw Jill and 16 other leading businesswomen admitted to the Club, was held as part of the 2014 Women 1st Shine Awards which recognise and celebrate female talent in travel and tourism. The Club brings together the most influential women in the UK’s hospitality, passenger transport, travel and tourism sectors.
“It’s a real honour to be recognised for working in an industry about which I’m so passionate,” commented Jill after the ceremony. “I’m so lucky to be in a job which I love and which inspires me each and every day.
“Hospitality is a fantastic industry to be working in at any level – and I’m honoured that I’m in the privileged position of being able to help build a strong pipeline of talent for the future and perhaps motivate and guide the next generation of leaders.”
Women that make a real difference
Simone Roche, director of Women 1st, said: “The Top 100 Club recognises women that make a real difference to the companies they work for and to our industry. All members are an inspiration to their industry and are great examples of the drive, commitment, enthusiasm and sheer passion required to make it, and crucially, they provide excellent role models for tomorrow’s female leaders.”
HIT Training, which last year delivered half of all the hotel and catering apprenticeships in England, was one of three finalists in the Women 1st Shine ‘Large Business’ Award at the same ceremony.
HIT also recently became the first training company to be awarded the prestigious ‘People 1st Gold Level’ accreditation for its high quality training and excellence in skills development. Women 1st is the campaigning arm of People 1st, the leading skills and workforce development charity for employers in the hospitality, tourism leisure and travel industries.