2006

2006 winners unveiled!

The country´s top training success stories were celebrated at the National Training Awards´ gala ceremony held at London´s Royal Lancaster Hotel on 14th December 2006.

The 51 winners came from across the UK and were presented with their National Training Award trophies by sports commentator, Colin Jackson.

Winners included Hertfordshire Constabulary for its anti-terrorism training, P & O Ferries for its customer-focused sales training programme and the logistics company DHL for an effective manager training programme (note to editors: a full list of winners is given at the end of this release)

Colin Jackson said: "Training in sport and business are very similar. In both you can only achieve success if you develop your skills and are prepared to overcome hurdles to reach your goals! I applaud each winner´s commitment to investing in learning for themselves or for people in their organisation. They deserve the recognition of this accolade."

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Skills, Phil Hope MP, acknowledged the achievement of the winners: "The National Training Awards are all about celebrating truly exemplary training, and giving recognition to exceptional achievements. NTA challenges individuals and organisations to take control and invest in their own development and future and are proof that training works - opening doors to jobs, opportunities and often a whole new life."

UK Skills runs the awards on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills. UK Skills Chief Executive, Jacqui Henderson CBE, said behind each trophy was a story about commitment, pride, personal growth, achievement and sheer hard work.

"More importantly, there´s also a story about how training has brought real results to people, companies and communities. The winners have increased their profits, reduced staff turnover, have more satisfied clients, progressed their careers and developed staff so that they can take on new responsibilities.

"People make businesses work but it´s their skills and experience that make businesses flourish. Effective training helps create a more effective, productive and flexible workforce.

"My message to UK Plc is simple: invest in training to gain a true competitive advantage."

The following sponsored awards were also given to:

• Burnley College - the Ufi learndirect award for the successful implementation of its training programme and for delivering significant change in both individuals and the organisation in a sustainable way
   
• Compass Group UK & Ireland - the PKF award for a large scale project which encompassed all levels of the business and which creatively used training to drive efficiency
   
• DHL - the City & Guilds award for training using training to deliver a culture change that extended right through management and on to customers and which brought human and financial benefits
   
• Luminary Solutions - the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) award for an organisation which has excelled in creating an organisational culture in which training and learning can flourish
   
• Rural Development Initiatives - the Learning and Skills Council ´Employer Response´ award for innovation in a new emerging industry

The director of the Youth Conference Service, Youth Justice Agency, Northern Ireland, Alice Chapman, received the Linda Ammon Award for her work championing award-winning learning and development.

This year is the 20th anniversary of National Training Awards which celebrate businesses, organisations and individuals that achieve outstanding success through training and development.

They are sponsored by the Learning and Skills Council, City & Guilds, PKF, CIPD, and Ufi learndirect, and supported by Investors in People.

This year´s National Training Award Winners are:

England Entry titles follow winners´ names
South West

• Bristol City Council in partnership with Nelson Training Limited: Training in customer focus in a City Council
• Bovey Construction Ltd, Ashburton: Construction company greatly exceeds performance targets by developing site managers

South East

• P&O Ferries: Customer Focused Sales Training Programme
• Polestar UK Print Limited: Innovative, interactive training programme for the print industry
• Team-Teach Ltd: Behaviour support & intervention training for staff in education, social & health services
• Inglewood Nursing Homes Limited in partnership with Baldwin Training Centre: Training for Carers in Nursing Home
• Prime Care Community Services Limited: Training to improve standards in the Care Industry

Greater London

• Course-Source Ltd in partnership with Virtual Pedagogue Ltd: E-Learning in the NHS
• Love & Tate Plc in partnership with London Borough of Tower Hamlets: 18-24 yr olds trained for work
• Broadway Homelessness and Support: Management development in newly merged homelessness charity
• Wilson Chowdhry: Developing personal and professional skills in the security industry
• Orpington College in partnership with First Group plc (Orpington Bus Garage) and the Transport and General Workers Union: ´First Attempts´ at skills for life

East of England

• Thomas Cook Emergency Procedures: Training staff to support customers caught up in incidents and natural disasters
• Hertfordshire Constabulary: Counter terrorism training for front line officers of local Constabulary
• Flexible Lamps Ltd: Changing a production line into multi-skilled teams
• Ravin Jayasuriya: A lifetime commitment to drumming
• GMB Trade Union in partnership with Trade Union Learning Link: Trade Union Learning Project

West Midlands

• Compass Group UK & Ireland: IT and change management in the foodservice sector
• Dene Magna School: An innovative reflective learning programme for school teachers and support staff
• Yvonne Clarke: From copy typist to employment, community regeneration manager and then MD

East Midlands

• DHL in partnership with Ashorne Hill: DHL effective manager programme
• George Spencer Training School DRB: Leading Edge School devises learning package for graduate trainee teachers
• EM Media in partnership with Big Train: GDM for the Media Industry

Yorkshire and the Humber

• Luminary Solutions Ltd: Training-culture approach ensures new company expands rapidly with excellent business results
• Morrison Utility Services: Training for people to become electricity meter fitters

North West

• Burnley College: Using e-learning to pursue excellence
• Fairbairn Private Bank Limited: Customer Service Centre improving business
• Karen James: Early Years and Special Educational Needs Training
• Optimum Contact Solutions: Training to address performance management
• Paul Irving: From Farming to IT - a radical change of lifestyle through the power of Learning
• RBS Insurance (Direct Line Brand): Competence Development Programme for Contact Centre Staff

North East

• Rural Development Initiatives: Vocational learning programme in the Wood Sector
• North Tyneside Council: Training catering employees, students and teachers in healthy eating
• Sunderland City Council Adult Services - Services for Older People Division in partnership with Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust: Development of a Modernisation Programme for Home Care Staff
• BT Retail CS - Customer Service: Management development in the telecommunications sector
• Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd - Sunderland Plant: Business Improvement Techniques NVQ training for manufacturing staff and team leaders in a motor manufacturing business

Northern Ireland Entry titles follow winners´ names

• Campbell Catering NI Ltd: Staff training in the catering sector
• Extra Care: Family Carer Training Programme for Family Carers who are not employees
• Maura Rea: From the Better Reading Programme to seizing the moment
• Northern Ireland Tenant´s Action Project: Level 1 Community Capacity Building for residents groups
• Youth Conference Service, Youth Justice Agency: Youth conference service learning programme
• Almac Clinical Services Ltd: Whole staff development programme for leading clinical trials company
• North East Institute Of Further & Higher Education in partnership with RYOBI Aluminium Casting (UK) LTD: Robotics Training
• PIPS in partnership with North Belfast Partnership & Stakeholder Development: Training for those involved with people affected by suicide
• Northern Ireland Ambulance Service in partnership with Honestas: Training to deal with violence and aggression
• The Streat Café Franchising Limited: Training franchisees and their teams results in successful business operations for all

Scotland Entry titles follow winners´ names

• Margaret Stott: From disability and dependency to College IT Instructor
• Scottish Enterprise: Developing an accredited Business Advice service
• Parklands Ltd: Shift Leader programme in the care sector

Wales Entry titles follow winners´ names

• Duncan Williams: First Aid Training for self & others - career change
• Kerry Cope: Young woman engineer