Investing in learning and development (L&D) is vital for organisational success. Prioritising workforce upskilling keeps organisations competitive, and promotes growth, innovation and employee satisfaction. Recognition of these efforts not only validates them but also distinguishes organisations from competitors, offering a strong unique selling point.

For more than a decade, the Princess Royal Training Awards have established themselves as the pinnacle of recognition for exceptional training and development initiatives. This prestigious accolade not only recognises organisations that excel but also celebrates their dedication to learning while offering them access to an exclusive alumni network and a host of valuable benefits that continue long after the award ceremony.

A unique award: Unparalleled support and royal distinction

The Princess Royal Training Awards distinguish themselves from other award programmes in several notable ways: they are completely free, open to all UK and Ireland-based organisations, and as a standard of excellence, there is no competition with other organisations. The royal seal of approval adds an extra layer of distinction.

Named after HRH The Princess Royal, President of the City & Guilds of London Institute, these Awards benefit from her active involvement. HRH personally reviews the Assessors’ recommendations and presents the Awards to recipients at the prestigious ceremony. As one previous recipient noted:

“There is something a little bit magical about The Princess Royal and that stardom element. So that definitely gives it an extra edge which we wouldn’t have had with another award.”

The Awards also offer a wealth of support options, including in-person and virtual workshops, tea and chat sessions, web chat, one-to-one-calls, and draft feedback from Assessors (now available at two points in the application journey).

In 2024, technology solutions company Version 1 achieved an Award for a programme designed to build and grow its own culture and develop its approach to sustainability planning. For them:

“What was really beneficial was just the amount of support that the Princess Royal Training Awards team provide. I made sure that we joined all the tea & chat sessions, I had one of my team members go along to the in-person session in Dublin, and something I would urge everyone to do is get your draft in, even if it isn’t the final draft you’d like to submit.”

New this year, organisations can also gain recognition for training programmes delivered internationally, reflecting the increasingly global nature of learning and development, whilst maintaining a strong focus on UK and Ireland-based programmes.

Beyond the Award: Unleashing organisational potential

Earning a Princess Royal Training Award has been transformative for numerous organisations, offering benefits that extend beyond the Award itself. The royal recognition enhances recipients’ reputations, distinguishing them from competitors and boosting their industry credibility. The Award has also helped organisations enhance recruitment and retention, attracting top talent and retaining valuable employees by showcasing their commitment to professional development.

Award recipients frequently report increased investment in their training programmes following the accolade, and HR and L&D departments often find themselves more deeply involved in organisational strategy post-Award. Pret, who achieved an Award in 2023 for the Pret Academy, experienced this first-hand:

“It has made a big difference. Before, it was very operationally driven and we weren’t seen as the experts, but now they want to speak to the L&D team to see how to deliver solutions, and we have lots of people coming to us, lots of senior stakeholders. Internally, it has put us on their radar.”

Offploy, a social enterprise dedicated to supporting individuals to overcome barriers to secure and stable employment, earned recognition in 2024 for their innovate programme designed to enhance case load management. They reported on the unifying aspect of the Award:

“This Award really did help to bring all sorts of obscure departments together across the organisation. The Award was a huge boost to ensure that the person that’s mentoring feels validated in what they do, and then the organisation, the training and the quality team also feel validated. Therefore, all other departments do as well.”

The 2025 Impact Report* revealed even more compelling findings from the latest survey of Award recipients:

• 74% said achieving the Award helped them to better demonstrate the value of L&D to internal stakeholders.
• 91% felt the Awards supported their commitment to social value.
• 69% reported that the high standard of the Award had increased investment in L&D programmes.

A decade of network building: The power of the alumni

One of the most significant benefits of receiving a Princess Royal Training Award is becoming part of a thriving alumni of more than 700 like-minded leaders in L&D. Over the past ten years, the Princess Royal Training Awards have promoted a diverse and vibrant alumni community, from global corporations to small charities, across various sectors and each with their own unique story to tell.

This esteemed network, united by a shared commitment to L&D, provides networking opportunities with other industry leaders, the sharing of best practice, and ongoing prospects for professional development, knowledge exchange and collaborative initiatives.

In 2024, the first Skills Share event held at Guildhall, London, highlighted the community’s strengths, bringing organisations together to network and share valuable lessons and best practice. Chief Assessor Fenella Tallon remarked:

“The City & Guilds Foundation’s Skills Share event in May 2024 was a huge success and attracted over one hundred people. Hearing people share their stories and having a focus on hot topics like supporting neurodiverse learners was so inspiring.”

Building on its strong debut, the second skills share event in April 2025 welcomed 130 Award recipients to the iconic Goldsmiths’ Hall in London. ​The gatherings highlight diverse expertise across sectors, featuring programmes in leadership development, cultural transformation, talent pipeline upskilling, and apprenticeships. What makes these events particularly special is the attendees’ shared commitment to L&D, and their belief in the transformative power of workplace training.

Join a community of excellence

As the Princess Royal Training Awards enter their second decade, the value of this community continues to grow.

Each year, new alumni strengthen a network built on shared experience, ambition and excellence in training. This community offers ongoing opportunities to connect, learn from peers and celebrate the impact of investing in people.

If you are looking to be recognised for a training programme which has positively impacted your organisation, and would like to join this exceptional alumni, why not apply now?

This is a unique opportunity to display your commitment to training and development and be recognised for your achievements. Visit the website, contact the team at: info@princessroyaltrainingawards.com or sign up for a free workshop to find out more.

Applications are open until 20 March 2026.

I wish you the best of luck with your entry! 

Becki

*City & Guilds Foundation (2025) A Catalyst for Opportunity: City & Guilds Foundation Impact Report 2025

Useful links:
The Princess Royal Training Awards website: https://www.princessroyaltrainingawards.com/
Details for the support workshops: https://www.princessroyaltrainingawards.com/help-and-support/
Find out if you are eligible: https://www.princessroyaltrainingawards.com/how-to-apply/eligibility-flowchart/
Recipients 2025: https://princessroyaltrainingawards.com/2025-recipients
Boost’s award writing services: https://boost-awards.co.uk/ 

Investing in learning and development (L&D) is vital for organisational success. Prioritising workforce upskilling keeps organisations competitive, and promotes growth, innovation and employee satisfaction. Recognition of these efforts not only validates them but also distinguishes organisations from competitors, offering a strong unique selling point.

For more than a decade, the Princess Royal Training Awards have established themselves as the pinnacle of recognition for exceptional training and development initiatives. This prestigious accolade not only recognises organisations that excel but also celebrates their dedication to learning while offering them access to an exclusive alumni network and a host of valuable benefits that continue long after the award ceremony.

A unique award: Unparalleled support and royal distinction

The Princess Royal Training Awards distinguish themselves from other award programmes in several notable ways: they are completely free, open to all UK and Ireland-based organisations, and as a standard of excellence, there is no competition with other organisations. The royal seal of approval adds an extra layer of distinction.

Named after HRH The Princess Royal, President of the City & Guilds of London Institute, these Awards benefit from her active involvement. HRH personally reviews the Assessors’ recommendations and presents the Awards to recipients at the prestigious ceremony. As one previous recipient noted:

“There is something a little bit magical about The Princess Royal and that stardom element. So that definitely gives it an extra edge which we wouldn’t have had with another award.”

The Awards also offer a wealth of support options, including in-person and virtual workshops, tea and chat sessions, web chat, one-to-one-calls, and draft feedback from Assessors (now available at two points in the application journey).

In 2024, technology solutions company Version 1 achieved an Award for a programme designed to build and grow its own culture and develop its approach to sustainability planning. For them:

“What was really beneficial was just the amount of support that the Princess Royal Training Awards team provide. I made sure that we joined all the tea & chat sessions, I had one of my team members go along to the in-person session in Dublin, and something I would urge everyone to do is get your draft in, even if it isn’t the final draft you’d like to submit.”

New this year, organisations can also gain recognition for training programmes delivered internationally, reflecting the increasingly global nature of learning and development, whilst maintaining a strong focus on UK and Ireland-based programmes.

Beyond the Award: Unleashing organisational potential

Earning a Princess Royal Training Award has been transformative for numerous organisations, offering benefits that extend beyond the Award itself. The royal recognition enhances recipients’ reputations, distinguishing them from competitors and boosting their industry credibility. The Award has also helped organisations enhance recruitment and retention, attracting top talent and retaining valuable employees by showcasing their commitment to professional development.

Award recipients frequently report increased investment in their training programmes following the accolade, and HR and L&D departments often find themselves more deeply involved in organisational strategy post-Award. Pret, who achieved an Award in 2023 for the Pret Academy, experienced this first-hand:

“It has made a big difference. Before, it was very operationally driven and we weren’t seen as the experts, but now they want to speak to the L&D team to see how to deliver solutions, and we have lots of people coming to us, lots of senior stakeholders. Internally, it has put us on their radar.”

Offploy, a social enterprise dedicated to supporting individuals to overcome barriers to secure and stable employment, earned recognition in 2024 for their innovate programme designed to enhance case load management. They reported on the unifying aspect of the Award:

“This Award really did help to bring all sorts of obscure departments together across the organisation. The Award was a huge boost to ensure that the person that’s mentoring feels validated in what they do, and then the organisation, the training and the quality team also feel validated. Therefore, all other departments do as well.”

The 2025 Impact Report* revealed even more compelling findings from the latest survey of Award recipients:

• 74% said achieving the Award helped them to better demonstrate the value of L&D to internal stakeholders.
• 91% felt the Awards supported their commitment to social value.
• 69% reported that the high standard of the Award had increased investment in L&D programmes.

A decade of network building: The power of the alumni

One of the most significant benefits of receiving a Princess Royal Training Award is becoming part of a thriving alumni of more than 700 like-minded leaders in L&D. Over the past ten years, the Princess Royal Training Awards have promoted a diverse and vibrant alumni community, from global corporations to small charities, across various sectors and each with their own unique story to tell.

This esteemed network, united by a shared commitment to L&D, provides networking opportunities with other industry leaders, the sharing of best practice, and ongoing prospects for professional development, knowledge exchange and collaborative initiatives.

In 2024, the first Skills Share event held at Guildhall, London, highlighted the community’s strengths, bringing organisations together to network and share valuable lessons and best practice. Chief Assessor Fenella Tallon remarked:

“The City & Guilds Foundation’s Skills Share event in May 2024 was a huge success and attracted over one hundred people. Hearing people share their stories and having a focus on hot topics like supporting neurodiverse learners was so inspiring.”

Building on its strong debut, the second skills share event in April 2025 welcomed 130 Award recipients to the iconic Goldsmiths’ Hall in London. ​The gatherings highlight diverse expertise across sectors, featuring programmes in leadership development, cultural transformation, talent pipeline upskilling, and apprenticeships. What makes these events particularly special is the attendees’ shared commitment to L&D, and their belief in the transformative power of workplace training.

Join a community of excellence

As the Princess Royal Training Awards enter their second decade, the value of this community continues to grow.

Each year, new alumni strengthen a network built on shared experience, ambition and excellence in training. This community offers ongoing opportunities to connect, learn from peers and celebrate the impact of investing in people.

If you are looking to be recognised for a training programme which has positively impacted your organisation, and would like to join this exceptional alumni, why not apply now?

This is a unique opportunity to display your commitment to training and development and be recognised for your achievements. Visit the website, contact the team at: info@princessroyaltrainingawards.com or sign up for a free workshop to find out more.

Applications are open until 20 March 2026.

I wish you the best of luck with your entry! 

Becki

*City & Guilds Foundation (2025) A Catalyst for Opportunity: City & Guilds Foundation Impact Report 2025

Useful links:
The Princess Royal Training Awards website: https://www.princessroyaltrainingawards.com/
Details for the support workshops: https://www.princessroyaltrainingawards.com/help-and-support/
Find out if you are eligible: https://www.princessroyaltrainingawards.com/how-to-apply/eligibility-flowchart/
Recipients 2025: https://princessroyaltrainingawards.com/2025-recipients
Boost’s award writing services: https://boost-awards.co.uk/