An apprentice supported by HIT Training has become the first in the country to complete the new Hospitality Supervisor Apprenticeship and has passed with flying colours, achieving a Distinction.

Caitlin Wooldridge, a trainee bar manager at Stanton Lakes near Leicester, completed the Level 3 standard, specialising in food and beverage. Through the programme, she has gained the skills required to independently supervise hospitality services, run shifts and motivate a team, providing vital support to management. Having experienced a variety of areas of business operations as part of her apprenticeship, Caitlin is now considering broadening her hospitality horizons to learn more about events planning and management at Stanton Lakes.

Jill Whittaker, Managing Director at HIT Training, said: “We are so pleased for Caitlin. The new apprenticeship standards are very much designed to encourage apprentices to take a more forward-thinking, business-like and creative approach to learning which will ultimately not only support them into a long and fruitful career but also support the business needs of their employer. It’s wonderful to see Caitlin’s hard work recognised with a Distinction and to hear that her apprenticeship is opening doors for her into other areas of the business – it is exactly what apprenticeships are all about.”

Helen Lambert, Caitlin’s Line Manager at Stanton Lakes, said: “Caitlin has worked for us since she was 16 years old, starting out as a kitchen porter before beginning to work her way up through the ranks towards the role of bar manager. It has been amazing to watch her confidence grow as her career has progressed and to now see her training more junior staff. With the help of HIT Training’s tailored support, this apprenticeship has given Caitlin the perfect foundation to build her skills through on-the-job training and I feel so proud that she is the first person in the country to complete the apprenticeship and receive a distinction.”

Caitlin Wooldridge added: “I’m so glad I chose to go down the apprenticeship route. I did initially apply to go to university, but after working throughout the summer I realised that doing a course alongside my job would be a better choice for me. It’s vocational so it helps to practice your skill as well as adding value to your education at the same time. Doing this apprenticeship with HIT Training has really opened my eyes to the possibilities a career in hospitality offers and I’d like to look at taking on a more managerial role in the future.”

HIT Training was the first national hospitality training provider to deliver the new apprenticeship standards, which are part of the Government-led overhaul to the apprenticeship system. The standards are designed to raise the bar and ensure training is in line with the requirements of the fast-paced hospitality industry and individual job roles.

Unlike the old apprenticeship frameworks, the new standards focus on one end-point assessment, which was carried out by Training Qualifications UK (TQUK) for Caitlin. The new process is designed to be even more rigorous, with the final assessment being tailored to each individual apprenticeship. Across all standards, this includes a two-hour observation, multiple choice exam and interview to discuss the apprentices’ learning journey and past experiences.

For more information on HIT Training, please visit www.hittraining.co.uk or call 0800 093 5892