HIT embraces technology

For Lester Biddle, HIT’s South East Regional Operational and Training Manager, technology and e-learning are absolutely critical to the future development of the company, particularly in the present financial climate.

It was about a year ago that I first became interested in how technology could be used within HIT to aid assessment and learning.  My knowledge on the subject was fairly limited, so I undertook some CPD (Continuing Personal or Professional Development) on the subject to expand my understanding and also to gain experience for existing practitioners.  

My first intention was to gain sufficient information to design a one day workshop on the subject matter.  This was completed after about 2 months and the workshop was written and ready to roll out.  I offered the workshop predominantly to Trainer Assessors and Internal Verifier's across the country.  Starting in the South East, I took the workshop and delivered in 14 locations across the country.  To date 145 of HIT's staff have attended the workshop.

Harry's Great Wall Trek

Our Norfolk & Suffolk area manager, Harry Baird recently took part in Springboards Great Wall of China Trek raising funds for the hospitality charity Springboard UK. As part of a team of 24 trekkers from all walks of the industry Harry tells us of his experiences..

Part 2

There it was the great wall! It seemed endless!

We all limbered up and the first of the 12 pairs moved up the hill where we split into three groups to remain throughout the trek.

Having not kept up with the fast paced middle trekkers I walked on my own until I decided to leave the wall with a hard prickly bush taking my fall in places I wish not to discuss.

Once the summit had been reached we went to catch our bus and return for another late Chinese lunch (oh please, please release me from this) and another visit was planned on our way back.

Finally we arrived at our lodge tired and thirsty. We all got ourselves cleaned up, had another Chinese dinner (of the same foods as previous) and met in the room where cards, beer and firewater inevitably improved the morale.

10 miles completed

Day 3 - Monday 28 March 2011

The morning arrived. I knew then that the firewater had not been good for me! Breakfast would have been a step to far so instead I somehow got up, showered and shaved.

I met everyone out front and death was a good description of what I saw. We all drank lots of water and started our trek on foot, slowly I walked one step then another and somehow I continued with the encouragement from the group and knowing it was self-inflicted!

The trek went on for hours and slowly I recovered to take in some superb sights and thrilling scenery. Finally our lunch break included a sandwich which was enjoyed by all as a welcome change.

Onward and upwards we trekked until finally a descent was made into a village that did not fit in with the surroundings. Our last group arrived to Chinese karaoke of some sort where a beer was thrust into my hand (which took 60 minutes to consume). As we talked and reflected our trek the urge for karaoke took over some of the trekkers

20 miles completed

Oh forgot to mention dinner! A Chinese meal of similar type was provided and I opted for an early night.

Harry's Great Wall Trek

Our Norfolk & Suffolk area manager, Harry Baird recently took part in Springboards Great Wall of China Trek raising funds for the hospitality charity Springboard UK. As part of a team of 24 trekkers from all walks of the industry Harry tells us of his experiences..

Part 1

Day 1 - Friday 25th March and Saturday 26^th March 2011

All the trekkers met for the first time at Heathrow airport, 3 hours prior to departure where small conversation was made as everyone tried to get to know each other. Charity Challenge who helped organise the event, met everyone and assisted the group through booking and baggage.

Our flights consisted of flying first to Helsinki in Finland and then onto a connecting flight to Beijing. Once aboard our flight we started to get to know each other with friendships starting on what was a calm flight…That was until we started to land at Helsinki airport, where Finn air suddenly became very thin air indeed!! As we swirled everywhere the runway was toing and froing from my view out the window. Suddenly with a twist the plane went down hard and all on-board bounced, we had landed. As an icebreaker I feel that this would take a lot to be beaten.

After the drama we boarded our long flight to Beijing which was less scary although the previous experience gave all the trekkers something to talk about. Eight hours or so later we arrived at our destination and after getting through immigration we set foot outside and greeted Beijing, and the smog greeted us!

We were met by our guides who gave us a brief introduction to China before we set off in traffic that can only be compared to the M25 rush-hour. After crawling through traffic for some time a decision was made to take an early, very welcome lunch of Chinese cuisine. As we sat down everything starting moving on a turning table, first a bowl and then chop sticks in tow “Where’s the forks”, the realisation sunk in, we need chopstick skill! The meals kept on coming with let’s say ‘unusual flavours’ and when they state pork it’s not pork as you know it, although now was not the time I wanted to find out.

Welcome to our new Blog!!!

Welcome to our new blog! We hope to give you an insight into the lives of all the people who make HIT so successful, from the boardroom to the training room.

April was a busy month for all of us at HIT, but we still managed to find time to pat ourselves on the back when staff from all round the company got together and celebrated our successes over the past year at our annual company conference, with this year’s theme "Going for Growth". 

At the conference the board gave us a brief on the State of the Nation, summarising the past 12 months for HIT and painting the picture for the future. This was followed by our celebrity guest speaker… The Michelin and 5AA Rosette award winning French chef - Jean-Christophe Novelli!!

The inspirational Jean-Christophe Novelli gave us an insight into his life story, with anecdotes from his childhood to receiving his first Michelin Star.

An entertaining day was capped off with an Oscar style awards ceremony and lots of celebrating, and HIT certainly know how to celebrate!!!