Umbrella Training and Red Carnation Hotels among Princess Royal Training Award recipients

Umbrella Training and Red Carnation Hotels were among 53 organisations across the UK and Ireland that were recognised by the Princess Royal, president of the City and Guilds of London Institute, for their outstanding commitment to training and skills development.

Now in its eighth year, the award celebrates businesses that offer people the chance to adapt to new environments and grow leadership skills.

Application numbers from the hospitality sector have increased since last year, which contributed to the overall rise in contenders to 145.

Umbrella Training, who received the award in 2020, was praised once again for evolving its leadership structure and continuing to achieve a 100% apprentice pass rate.

Meanwhile, the Oakman Group was recognised for increased retention and spend per head, while Red Carnation Hotels was commended for its graduate management programme, which has trained 53 individuals over the past three years.

Pret A Manger was also rewarded for its Pret Academy, which offers allergen training, and the Ascot Racecourse was recognised for hosting a training session for 3,599 employees and contractors.

Kirstie Donnelly MBE, chief executive of City & Guilds, said: “It’s encouraging to see such a diverse range of employers continuing to apply for a Princess Royal Training Award. Despite the obvious challenges in recent years, they have shown unwavering dedication to nurturing their workforce through outstanding training and skills development, resulting in a lasting positive impact.

“As skills shortages and job vacancies rise, investing in training and development can help to increase productivity and harness and retain talent for future growth. Not only is this good for business and the workforce – it is also beneficial for wider society and contributes to thriving local economies. These organisations exemplify the transformative power of investing in people, and we are honoured to celebrate their accomplishments.”