2001
Hospitality Plus is acquired by the VT Group, now Babcock International. John signs a five-year lock out contract agreeing not to start a rival training provider.
2006
HIT Training Ltd is launched. In response to the Government’s new Train to Gain initiative, John Hyde and Jill Whittaker found HIT Training with 32 former colleagues from Hospitality Plus. The company specialises in vocational programmes in the hospitality sector. Within the year, HIT wins its first half-a-million-pound contract, plus smaller sub-contracts with 32 Further Education colleges across the country.
2007
HIT celebrates its first year and reaches 1,000 learners on programme.
2008
HIT launches Connect2Care, a division specialising in adult care. The company also has its first Ofsted inspection, achieving a rating of ‘Good’.
2009
The National Apprenticeship Service is founded to coordinate apprenticeships in England. HIT and Connect2Care Apprenticeship frameworks are launched.
2012
HIT and Connect2Care maintain their ‘Good’ rating with Ofsted. HIT is recognised as a Gold Standard provider with sector skills body People 1st.
2014
Turnover ‘hits’ £25 million. HIT employs its 500th employee in April after entering, for the first time, the ‘Times Top 100 Companies to Work For’, placing 92nd.
2016
HIT celebrates its 10th year and the TOP Chef Academy launches to acclaim across the hospitality and catering industry. HIT also introduces retail apprenticeships to its offer and is one of the first companies to adopt apprenticeship standards.
2017
John Hyde is awarded a CBE for services to education and training in hospitality and care at Buckingham Palace. HIT continues to meet Ofsted ‘Good’ ratings, with the Chef Academy cited as ‘Outstanding’. A new system for funding all new apprenticeships is introduced on 6th April 2017 called the Apprenticeship Levy, with HIT becoming a lead advisor to hospitality industry employers. Connect2Care starts working with the early years sector and becomes an Adult Care endorsed provider with ‘Skills 4 Care’.
2018
HIT wins a ‘Supplier Excellence’ award at the annual Foodservice Cateys 2018, the equivalent of the Oscars of the hospitality industry. Connect2Care starts work in healthcare and HIT is awarded ‘The Times Educational Supplement Training Provider of the Year’.
2019
HIT introduces its new mission ‘People, Planet, Profit’ demonstrating the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability, as a golden thread throughout the business and supply chain. It also launches the UK's first apprenticeship for brewers, in collaboration with an industry trailblazer group.
2020
HIT is named for the fourth time in the aspirational Sunday Times ‘Top 100 Best Companies to Work For’. At number 17, the company has continued to rise through the ranks from 92nd in 2014 to 88th in 2015 to 74th in 2018.
2021
Identifying a need for management and leadership skills training, HIT ltd launches the Executive Development Network featuring quarterly ‘3rd Horizon’ events providing cutting-edge learning from a variety of different sectors – from sport to music, manufacturing, international retail and science. Connect2Care becomes the only provider to work with funeral services. HIT celebrates its 15th birthday.
2022
Jill Whittaker is awarded an OBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours list for outstanding services to apprenticeships in hospitality, care and management.
2023
HIT Training Ltd announces the creation of an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) giving employees a majority share of the company. The move reflects the company’s commitment to creating an inclusive workplace that values the contributions of all employees. HIT also becomes one of the first independent training providers to become an employee-owned company. Jill takes up the Executive Chair position and Mike Worley becomes Managing Director.
2024
HIT Training Ltd wins ‘Best Training Provider’ at the prestigious Apprenticeship Guide Awards
2025
HIT Training Ltd achieved Planet Mark Certification, marking a major milestone in its commitment to sustainability and the journey towards net zero. Its dedication to skills excellence was recognised with the Excellence in English and Maths Skills Development award at the Apprenticeship and Training Awards. HIT was also named ‘Apprenticeship Provider of the Year’ at the British Training Awards for the second consecutive year. HIT launched its groundbreaking Hospitality Academy - a pioneering initiative to raise service standards, develop future leaders, and drive long-term success across the hospitality sector.
2026
HIT Training Ltd changes its name to The Opportunity Provider Ltd (TOP)
