More than £100,000 was raised at the Springboard Awards for Excellence 2022, in partnership with Smart Group, this week as the hospitality charity crowned its hospitality heroes of the past 12 months.

The awards ceremony highlighted the great lengths our hospitality businesses have been to in order to attract talent and look after, develop and retain their workforce, through being innovative, inclusive and collaborative.

The evening was a spectacular event with the backdrop of stunning city views from the 4^th and 5^th floors of The Science Museum in the exclusive ‘Illuminate’ venue.

Julia Sibley, chief executive of the Savoy Educational Trust, collected the Chris Beaumont Outstanding Contribution award, while Mitchells & Butlers and Bartlett Mitchell each picked up two awards and Rare Restaurants, Luxury Family Hotels and Sodexo were also among the winners.

Hosted by TV Presenter and Paralympian champion Ade Adepitan, who shared a personal and evocative story with the room, giving appreciation of charities like Springboard, who support those in a disadvantaged position to reach their potential. The great and the good of the hospitality industry dug deep to raise more than 100k for the charity across donations, sponsorship and ticket sales.

Springboard CEO, Chris Gamm, kicked off the ceremony by commending those nominated and shortlisted for doing an outstanding job, championing the industry and aligning with Springboard’s mission to futureproof the talent pipeline for hospitality.

The awards fell on the same week that Springboard hit the milestone of supporting 5,000 young, unemployed people into work as part of its ‘Springboard to 2022’ initiative. Chris also gave a mention to Springboard FutureChef’s recent winner, Phoebe Lawson, who took the crown at the national final last month.

The full list of the Springboard Awards for Excellence winners:

Ambassador of the Year, sponsored by BaxterStorey – Catrina Pengelley, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group

Best Kickstart Employer, sponsored by Harri – Sodexo

Best Apprenticeship Strategy, sponsored by Hit Training – Mitchells & Butlers

Best Education and Industry Partnership Award, sponsored by Sodexo – The Grand, Brighton

Disability Confident Award – Hotel Brooklyn

Career Development Initiative, sponsored by Diageo – Philema Hospitality Management

Best Employer, sponsored by American Express – Luxury Family Hotels

Best Practice Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Integration – Rare Restaurants

Best Recruitment Initiative, sponsored by Handpicked Hotels – Mitchells & Butlers

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Award, sponsored by CH&Co – Bartlett Mitchell

Best Talent Onboarding, sponsored by Mapal – Royal Lancaster London

Employee Health and Wellbeing Award, sponsored by Pladis – Bartlett Mitchell

Business Innovation, sponsored by 5 Hertford Street – Balmer Lawn Hotel

Community Engagement Award – Sea Containers, London

Fiona Colley Trainee of the Year Award – Kevin McGowan

Chris Beaumont Outstanding Contribution Award, sponsored by Bidfood – Julia Sibley, Savoy Educational Trust

We were joined by Showtime Photo Booth, the go to company for photo booth hire in London with their GIF Photo Booth 

Thank you