Caring Homes are celebrating after being commended by HRH The Princess Royal, for their inspirational commitment to learning and development for the third time.

City & Guilds Group announced on Friday that 43 workplace learning programmes have been commended by the 2020 Princess Royal Training Awards to mark the Princess’ 70th birthday.

Now in its fifth year, the Princess Royal Training Awards recognise employers across the United Kingdom with outstanding training and development programmes that have had a direct impact on business performance. 2020 winners demonstrated exceptional commitment to training, despite facing the unprecedented challenges of Covid-19.

Caring Homes have been recognised this year specifically in relation to their Chef Development Programme which upskills chefs and meets and exceeds industry criteria for care home catering and cooking for people living with dementia who may be experiencing dysphagia (difficulty swallowing). Caring Homes are already part of The Princess Royal Awards ‘Community of Excellence’ having been recognised by the awards in 2018 for the Future Leaders Programme and in 2016 with the ‘My World’ Dementia Training Programme.

Commenting on the award, Liz Willis, Director of Learning and Organisational Development, said, “I am delighted that our dedication to training and development has been recognised in this way. At Caring Homes we wholeheartedly believe that investing in our colleagues, their learning and ongoing development is pivotal to the success of our organisation, the exceptional standards of care, safety and wellbeing we provide our residents and indeed the way in which we have risen to the challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic has presented.

“Our Chef Development Programme was formed using the very latest research and techniques which can be utilised by those throughout our homes preparing the very best, and most suitable, foods for the people we care for.”

Commenting on this year’s recipients Kirstie Donnelly MBE, Chief Executive of the City & Guilds Group said,

“Congratulations to all of the organisations who have achieved the Princess Royal Training Awards standard of excellence this year. We know that having a highly skilled workforce will be essential as we start to rebuild our economy post Covid-19, and in increasingly uncertain times making sure we invest in people has never been more important, nor has continuing to showcase the impact it has on organisational success.”

Previous winners have reported a number of benefits arising from the Awards, including increased investment into training programmes and improved levels of recruitment and retention, all of which will be useful as businesses work towards recovery post-COVID.

Organisations that have met the standard in 2020 differ in size and sector and other winners include Royal Mail, London Zoo, the Metropolitan Police, IBM and HM Revenue and Customs.

Originally posted on the Care Talk Business website: https://caretalk-business.co.uk/2020/08/18/caring-homes-recognised-by-hrh-the-princess-royal-on-her-70th-birthday/