The awards, which are presented by workforce development charity People 1st, celebrate the achievements of women working in hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism, as well as the individuals and businesses that support gender diversity in these industries.
Prue Leith, winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, said: “I am really delighted to receive the Robyn Jones Lifetime Achievement Award. The Shine Awards are really necessary – people often say ‘women are in the top jobs all over the world now, we don’t need to worry any more’, but we do. We take women in who are the best, but we don’t keep them – they leave because the conditions aren’t right.”
The evening also saw Chantelle Nicholson, chef patron at Tredwell’s and group operations director at Marcus Wareing Restaurants, receive the Woman of the Year award, while Unilever Food Solutions won the title of Best Place for Women to Work.
The full list of 2016 Shine Awards winners
- Rising Star (sponsored by Fraser Giles Partnership) – Irene Forte, Rocco Forte Hotels
- Innovator of the Year (sponsored by Brakes) – Maria Bobrowska, TUI Group
- Ambassador of the Year (sponsored by The Caterer) – Zuleika Fennell, Corbin & King
- Best Initiative to Retain and Develop Women (sponsored by Unilever Food Solutions) – Project Amazon, Premier Inn (New Openings)
- Mentor of the Year (Sponsored by People 1st) – Gareth Billington – Everton Football Club, Sodexo
- Best Place for Women to Work (sponsored by Gail Kenny Executive Recruitment) – Unilever Food Solutions
- Woman of the Year (sponsored by Gail Kenny Executive Recruitment) – Chantelle Nicholson, Marcus Wareing Restaurants
- The Robyn Jones Lifetime Achievement Award (sponsored by Troika Recruitment) – Prue Leith