The awards are open to any hospitality businesses that are proud of the achievements over the last year.

New for this year, the awards include additional categories to showcase businesses that went ‘above and beyond’ to help support their staff and communities during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chris Gram, chief executive of Springboard UK, said: “We’ve been blown away by the amazing, inspirational entries already received for Springboard’s Virtual Awards for Excellence, but with the challenges businesses are facing right now, a few have asked for a little more time. 

“Therefore, we are pleased to say that we will be extending the submission deadline to give even more businesses the opportunity to showcase their best practice, resilience and outstanding contributions.

“It’s been a hugely challenging year for hospitality, but we’ve seen some amazing innovation: from the way businesses operate, market themselves, and develop their teams, to the way they look after their people and unlock new opportunities.

“This is the chance to recognise your colleagues, team, or the people you do business with and I encourage you to use the additional time to enter.”

The full list of awards available for nomination include:

• Best Implementation of Virtual Training
• Best Internal Covid-19 Training Programme
• Best Staff Communication
• Best Management Preparation
• Employee Health and Wellbeing
• Best Employer
• Best Use of Digital Marketing to Promote Sales or Service
• Best Use of Technology to Improve Customer Experience
• Best Delivered “Dine at Home” Experience
• Most Innovative Alcohol Strategy
• Business Innovation
• Best National Support for Key Workers
• Best National Support for Vulnerable People
• Best Individual Community Engagement
• Best Group Community Engagement
• Best Corporate Social Responsibility

To enter or find out more, visit: https://springboard.uk.net/events/the-virtual-awards-for-excellence/.