The Princess Royal Training Award recipients
Rebecca Carpenter
Managing Consultant, Boost Awards
The Princess Royal Training Awards: Royal recognition for organisations delivering impactful training
In a climate of uncertainty, with skills shortages in many sectors, a commitment to training is more significant than ever. Importantly, it is also a means of demonstrating that organisations are prepared to invest and upskill their employees; this can be an important differentiator for an organisation when trying to attract and recruit employees. Achieving a prestigious Princess Royal Training Award is a great way to demonstrate this dedication to training, learning and development.
In 2022, the seventh year for the Princess Royal Training Awards, there were 47 Awards to 46 organisations, with applications from large and small employers and including public, private and not-for-profit organisations across a variety of sectors and locations. The range of recipients included large national employers such as the DVLA, Greene King, GSK, IBM, JCB, Legal and General, OVO Energy, The Royal Navy and Santander through to smaller organisations such as heritage craft designers Cox London, employment charity Light Foundations, youth-focused charity OnSide and health and well-being charity Sheppey Matters. Labcorp received two awards for two different workplace programmes, each embracing aspirations to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion within the organisation.
Innovative training programmes
The 2022 Awards saw numerous innovative training programmes amongst recipient organisations. Particularly notable were training programmes with a novel focus, including a programme dedicated to improving knowledge on climate change from OVO Energy who demonstrated commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions across their operations by 2030, launching Plan Zero to achieve this. The Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) equally stands out for its programme designed to fill a skills shortage in the archaeological sector which has been made accessible to those with a degree in archaeology as well as those without.
A rise in employer-led training providers
A number of recipients for 2022 achieved the award for their employer-led programmes. This is where a group of employers in a sector come together to create a shared training facility which promotes access to skills development that might otherwise not be available due to cost, resources and expertise. Organisations here include the Electrical Distributors Association (EDA), a 100-year-old not-for-profit trade association representing the UK’s electrical wholesale sector. They developed a Product Knowledge Programme to address the lack of specialist training for member organisations. The training has been completed by 1400 learners, with the number of businesses accessing the programme increasing from 25 organisations in 142 branches in 2018, to 69 organisations in 297 branches in 2020.
Outstanding apprenticeship programmes
Apprenticeships featured strongly in the applications profile for 2022 and included some inspirational programmes, including those of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council whose successful apprenticeship model has been shared across many other councils in Wales. Large European coffee house Caffè Nero introduced a programme aimed at retaining staff and improving employee satisfaction whilst developing talent and were surprised at the difference an apprenticeship programme made to their manager population. Through implementing a leader training programme, Caffè Nero has increased store manager retention to over 80%, enhanced recruitment and promotions, and improved leader confidence amongst 100% of attendees. 96% also reported feeling supported in their career goals.
A growth in revalidations
Also noteworthy in 2022 was the development of the revalidation process and the number of applicants seeking the award through this route, underlining the benefits of the Princess Royal Training Awards to organisations. 16% of total applications were revalidations, all of which achieved the standard. Revalidation applicants have made huge strides forward. Several organisations demonstrated real progression to expand their programme to new groups of learners, such as The Royal Navy whose apprenticeship programme has grown significantly and now covers 20% of the workforce as opposed to 10% in 2019. Furthermore, Unipart Group doubled their staff headcount in three years and thus expanded their Manager Accreditation programme to cope with the resultant expansion in the manager population.
Focus on diversity, equity and inclusion
The Princess Royal Training Awards have always included the facility for a commendation for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) to be made to award recipients whose programmes demonstrate a notable commitment to DEI. The number of organisations focusing on encouraging and supporting a diverse workforce has steadily increased and six of this year’s award recipients achieved the commendation this year, with two being from the same organisation; Labcorp.
The national pub retailer and brewer Greene King is worthy of recognition for its apprenticeship programme which achieved an award in 2019 and was revalidated in 2022 for its impressive expansion to enhance employment opportunities for disadvantaged individuals. Greene King is committed to recruiting and training 1000 staff with a BAME background to their apprenticeship programme and an extra 300 ex-offenders. In addition to high retention rates for the sector at 67%, the range of apprenticeships has increased, a Chef Academy has been launched and 64% of employees who started an apprenticeship are still employed at the company.
Impact back on the business
Previous recipients of a Princess Royal Training Award have reported clear positive impacts on their businesses, with 90% of Award recipients saying the awards helped them to demonstrate the value of learning and development and 61% reporting increased investments into learning and development programmes. Organisations have also commented on the invaluable nature of the application process for their continued development:
“I thought I was being a little cheeky at the end by actually adopting the application process into a new process that we are going to roll out again and again across all of our other areas in the company… that just goes to show what a really good thought process there is behind the way the application is set out because it is something you can really adopt and use in the future to test and measure your own processes.” Cox London, 2022 recipient.
And it doesn’t end there. The journey continues for award recipients through membership of an active Alumni network of 600+ members. Many go on to collaborate on projects with other Alumni organisations who also recognise the value of investing in their people.
New for 2023
This year, the Princess Royal Training Awards are being launched in Ireland, extending their reach to more organisations than ever before. This exciting development will open up the benefits of the awards to even more organisations dedicated to training their people!
If you put training at the heart of your business, why not consider applying for an award in 2023? The Princess Royal Training Awards are evidence-based, completely free to enter and are open for applications until 31 March 2023. What’s more, as a standard of excellence to be achieved, you are not competing against other organisations, you simply have to show that you meet the criteria.
Free support workshops are taking place online and across UK & Ireland in February and March where you can get lots more information and support on the application process.
You can apply for an award here: https://www.princessroyaltrainingawards.com/how-to-apply/
Or, for more information visit: https://www.princessroyaltrainingawards.com/
I wish you the best of luck with your entry and look forward to seeing your organisation amongst the 2023 recipients.
Becki
Useful links:
The Princess Royal Training Awards website: https://www.princessroyaltrainingawards.com/
Details for the workshops: https://www.princessroyaltrainingawards.com/help-and-support/
Alumni network: https://www.princessroyaltrainingawards.com/alumni/
Boost’s guide to entering in 2023 https://awards-list.co.uk/princess-royal-training-awards/
Boost’s award writing services https://boost-awards.co.uk/
The Princess Royal Training Award recipients
Rebecca Carpenter
Managing Consultant, Boost Awards
The Princess Royal Training Awards: Royal recognition for organisations delivering impactful training
In a climate of uncertainty, with skills shortages in many sectors, a commitment to training is more significant than ever. Importantly, it is also a means of demonstrating that organisations are prepared to invest and upskill their employees; this can be an important differentiator for an organisation when trying to attract and recruit employees. Achieving a prestigious Princess Royal Training Award is a great way to demonstrate this dedication to training, learning and development.
In 2022, the seventh year for the Princess Royal Training Awards, there were 47 Awards to 46 organisations, with applications from large and small employers and including public, private and not-for-profit organisations across a variety of sectors and locations. The range of recipients included large national employers such as the DVLA, Greene King, GSK, IBM, JCB, Legal and General, OVO Energy, The Royal Navy and Santander through to smaller organisations such as heritage craft designers Cox London, employment charity Light Foundations, youth-focused charity OnSide and health and well-being charity Sheppey Matters. Labcorp received two awards for two different workplace programmes, each embracing aspirations to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion within the organisation.
Innovative training programmes
The 2022 Awards saw numerous innovative training programmes amongst recipient organisations. Particularly notable were training programmes with a novel focus, including a programme dedicated to improving knowledge on climate change from OVO Energy who demonstrated commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions across their operations by 2030, launching Plan Zero to achieve this. The Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) equally stands out for its programme designed to fill a skills shortage in the archaeological sector which has been made accessible to those with a degree in archaeology as well as those without.
A rise in employer-led training providers
A number of recipients for 2022 achieved the award for their employer-led programmes. This is where a group of employers in a sector come together to create a shared training facility which promotes access to skills development that might otherwise not be available due to cost, resources and expertise. Organisations here include the Electrical Distributors Association (EDA), a 100-year-old not-for-profit trade association representing the UK’s electrical wholesale sector. They developed a Product Knowledge Programme to address the lack of specialist training for member organisations. The training has been completed by 1400 learners, with the number of businesses accessing the programme increasing from 25 organisations in 142 branches in 2018, to 69 organisations in 297 branches in 2020.
Outstanding apprenticeship programmes
Apprenticeships featured strongly in the applications profile for 2022 and included some inspirational programmes, including those of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council whose successful apprenticeship model has been shared across many other councils in Wales. Large European coffee house Caffè Nero introduced a programme aimed at retaining staff and improving employee satisfaction whilst developing talent and were surprised at the difference an apprenticeship programme made to their manager population. Through implementing a leader training programme, Caffè Nero has increased store manager retention to over 80%, enhanced recruitment and promotions, and improved leader confidence amongst 100% of attendees. 96% also reported feeling supported in their career goals.
A growth in revalidations
Also noteworthy in 2022 was the development of the revalidation process and the number of applicants seeking the award through this route, underlining the benefits of the Princess Royal Training Awards to organisations. 16% of total applications were revalidations, all of which achieved the standard. Revalidation applicants have made huge strides forward. Several organisations demonstrated real progression to expand their programme to new groups of learners, such as The Royal Navy whose apprenticeship programme has grown significantly and now covers 20% of the workforce as opposed to 10% in 2019. Furthermore, Unipart Group doubled their staff headcount in three years and thus expanded their Manager Accreditation programme to cope with the resultant expansion in the manager population.
Focus on diversity, equity and inclusion
The Princess Royal Training Awards have always included the facility for a commendation for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) to be made to award recipients whose programmes demonstrate a notable commitment to DEI. The number of organisations focusing on encouraging and supporting a diverse workforce has steadily increased and six of this year’s award recipients achieved the commendation this year, with two being from the same organisation; Labcorp.
The national pub retailer and brewer Greene King is worthy of recognition for its apprenticeship programme which achieved an award in 2019 and was revalidated in 2022 for its impressive expansion to enhance employment opportunities for disadvantaged individuals. Greene King is committed to recruiting and training 1000 staff with a BAME background to their apprenticeship programme and an extra 300 ex-offenders. In addition to high retention rates for the sector at 67%, the range of apprenticeships has increased, a Chef Academy has been launched and 64% of employees who started an apprenticeship are still employed at the company.
Impact back on the business
Previous recipients of a Princess Royal Training Award have reported clear positive impacts on their businesses, with 90% of Award recipients saying the awards helped them to demonstrate the value of learning and development and 61% reporting increased investments into learning and development programmes. Organisations have also commented on the invaluable nature of the application process for their continued development:
“I thought I was being a little cheeky at the end by actually adopting the application process into a new process that we are going to roll out again and again across all of our other areas in the company… that just goes to show what a really good thought process there is behind the way the application is set out because it is something you can really adopt and use in the future to test and measure your own processes.” Cox London, 2022 recipient.
And it doesn’t end there. The journey continues for award recipients through membership of an active Alumni network of 600+ members. Many go on to collaborate on projects with other Alumni organisations who also recognise the value of investing in their people.
New for 2023
This year, the Princess Royal Training Awards are being launched in Ireland, extending their reach to more organisations than ever before. This exciting development will open up the benefits of the awards to even more organisations dedicated to training their people!
If you put training at the heart of your business, why not consider applying for an award in 2023? The Princess Royal Training Awards are evidence-based, completely free to enter and are open for applications until 31 March 2023. What’s more, as a standard of excellence to be achieved, you are not competing against other organisations, you simply have to show that you meet the criteria.
Free support workshops are taking place online and across UK & Ireland in February and March where you can get lots more information and support on the application process.
You can apply for an award here: https://www.princessroyaltrainingawards.com/how-to-apply/
Or, for more information visit: https://www.princessroyaltrainingawards.com/
I wish you the best of luck with your entry and look forward to seeing your organisation amongst the 2023 recipients.
Becki
Useful links:
The Princess Royal Training Awards website: https://www.princessroyaltrainingawards.com/
Details for the workshops: https://www.princessroyaltrainingawards.com/help-and-support/
Alumni network: https://www.princessroyaltrainingawards.com/alumni/
Boost’s guide to entering in 2023 https://awards-list.co.uk/princess-royal-training-awards/
Boost’s award writing services https://boost-awards.co.uk/
