Springboard announces awards shortlist

Springboard UK has announced the shortlist for its Awards for Excellence, which will reward outstanding achievements in hospitality at a virtual ceremony on 18 March. 

More than 40 businesses, including Gaucho and M Restaurants, Dishoom and Adam Handling Restaurants, have made the shortlist in 17 categories, recognising everything from employee health and wellbeing and staff communication, to the best dine at home experience and most innovative alcohol strategy.  

New for 2021, the awards also include categories to showcase businesses and employees who have gone above and beyond, demonstrating the ability to quickly adapt and implement new, successful initiatives in order to support their employees, communities and NHS during the pandemic.  

“We’ve received a record number of entries despite the pandemic, demonstrating that our hospitality industry has gone above and beyond in 2020 to support their communities and employees, adapt their business models and succeed despite the odds," comments Springboard CEO Chris Gamm. 

“We’ve got a fitting ceremony planned to celebrate the shortlist and reveal the winners. As well as announcing who takes the top spot in each category, we’ll have a number of celebrity guest appearances throughout the night, including Andi Oliver, Michele Roux Jr and Clare Smyth.” 

The awards - hosted by British comedian and television presenter Paul Sinha, who is best known as one of the chasers on the ITV game show The Chase - will take place from 6.30pm to 7.30pm on 18 March.

They’re free to attend, open to all and people can register at via the website.

The shortlist

Best Implementation of Virtual Training

Compass Group UK & Ireland
Frasers Hospitality, Malmaison and Hotel du Vin
Interstate Hotels and Resorts
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London
Resident Hotels

Best Staff Communication

The Dorchester Collection & 45 Park Lane
The Inn Collection Group
The Oriental
The Royal Air Force Club

Employee Health & Wellbeing

Dishoom
Gaucho and M Restaurants
Rapport Guest Services
The Torridon

Best Use of Digital Media to Promote Sales or Service

Cheval Collection
Holiday Inn Barrow in Furness
Oldwalls Collection
The Collective

Best Delivered "Dine at Home" Experience

Adam Handling Restaurant Group
Devonshire Hotels & Restaurant Group
Made in Oldstead
The Lowry Hotel

Best National Support for Vulnerable People

Hospitality Action
Interstate Hotels
Now Pause
Tooting Community Kitchen

Best Group Community Engagement

Hilton London Metropole
Only a Pavement Away
Sodexo - HMP Addiewell
The Dorchester
The Ned

Best Internal Covid-19 Training Programme

Aramark Ltd. Safety and Learning & Development Team
Calcot Collection
D&D London
Royal Lancaster London

Best Management Preparation

Harbour Hotels
Interstate Hotels and Resorts
PPHE Hotel Group
The Inn Collection

Best Employer

Home Grown Hotels Ltd. & Lime Wood Group Ltd.
Royal Lancaster London
The Athenaeum Hotel
The Gleneagles Hotel

Best Use of Technology to Improve Customer Experience

Compass Group UK & Ireland
Delaware North
Rockliffe Hotels
Wyboston Lakes

Most Innovative Alcohol Strategy

Bearded Man Cocktails
Couch Stirchley
Essex Spirits Company Ltd.
The Ned

Business Innovation

CH&Co
Harri
Selling Savvy Ltd
The Genuine Dining Company

Best National Support for Key Workers

Gaucho and M Restaurants
Leon and BaxterStorey
Medirest
Sea Containers London

Best Individual Community Engagement

Conrad D'Souza (Hilton London Tower Bridge)
James Dugmore (Amadeus)
Jeni Edwards (Ijess consulting)
Narmeen Kamran (Desert Island Events)

Best Corporate Social Responsibility

Brakes
Compass Group UK & Ireland
Hilton UK & Ireland
Sodexo Ltd. - Hestia and Falkland Islands