Investing in induction training to improve business performance
Banking, insurance and finance | <50 employees | Edinburgh

Prior to the introduction of the Mortgage Induction Programme, joiners took approximately 7 months to learn processes, gain competency and start to generate income for this mortgage company. Since launching the programme, financial and regulatory goals are being exceeded. Participants identified benefits including being able to manage complicated cases and establishing team relationships which supported their performance and career development.

Complex care training to support more people at home
Pharmaceuticals and healthcare | 250-999 employees | Southport

Alcedo Care is a family-owned care group providing home care services. The organisation invested in designing and delivering staff training around how to care for people with complex medical conditions which allowed it to expand its offer and benefit a wider client group. Since 2021, the company has gone from providing zero hours of complex care to 9,000 hours each week for its 275 clients, enabling the company to grow by 60%.

This collection of SME insurance broking and advisory businesses is committed to developing talent internally. It launched an Apprenticeship Programme to attract young and diverse talent who may not have previously considered a career in insurance. There has been a clear shift across the group from requesting recruitment of experienced staff to upskilling from within, and this has also led to Ardonagh Advisory drastically reducing its recruitment costs.

In 2020, Bentley Motors launched its intention to become the most sustainable luxury automotive brand in the world. To deliver on this and as a response to the impact of the pandemic, Bentley needed to make huge changes to its Retail Academy moving away from face-to-face delivery and developing engaging, digital training. In 2022, it almost doubled UK retailer engagement in learning to nearly 16,000 participants and it has significantly reduced the cost of training events with its agile, digital approach.

This Newcastle-based charity provides services to support vulnerable people. Following the pandemic, the manager population had a high level of both sickness rates and turnover alongside a 38% increase of people using its services. The charity radically altered its approach to training by introducing the Leading with Purpose programme, which included the ability to take time-out and enable managers to re-set. 60 managers have completed the training, and sickness costs and staff turnover have both significantly reduced.

Dawsongroup is a business-to-business asset hire group of companies. Recognising a skills gap, the organisation created a two-day Business Mastery course to prepare and develop employees to deal with day-to-day challenges, break down inter-group silos and highlight potential talent. Prior to the programme, only 17% of customers traded with more than one division of the company. This has increased to 85% and is attributed to a real focus on building trust and understanding across different divisions, which has led to increased cross- selling.

In 2023, this meat supplier launched its Butchery Traineeship Programme to meet a rise in customer demand and to alleviate the challenge of recruiting skilled butchers. The in-house, bespoke programme, which is providing a crucial talent pipeline, has been undertaken by 25 trainees and has led to a 5% improvement in production line performance and improved staff retention of 74%.

Introducing a bespoke offer to meet growing business needs
Education and training | 250-999 employees | Hengoed

Since achieving an Award in 2021, this apprenticeship programme provider has grown from 140 to 250 employees and has evolved its previous workforce development programme to reflect the needs of a growing company. A bespoke approach was introduced which can flex to individuals’ needs. 126 people have been trained since August 2023 and outcomes of graded observations have increased dramatically.

Using coaching to increase productivity and performance
Recruitment | 50-249 employees | Warrington

This IT and technology recruitment provider achieved an Award in 2017 for its Call Coaching training. Since then, the business has revamped the programme focusing on specific elements of clients calls including effective questioning and using AI to provide insights for improvement. Call Coaching has resulted in increased productivity, improved sales performance and there is a visible culture of continuous improvement within the organisation.

Providing graduates with the skills needed to flourish
Professional services | 250-999 employees | Manchester

As part of its ambitious growth plans, Express Solicitors introduced a five-week Graduate Scheme programme for entry-level graduates to ensure they had the skills needed to flourish in their roles. The programme, which is enabling business growth of 20% per year, has been undertaken by 203 graduates and 36 of these have progressed more quickly to a file handling role or a training contract. 70% of Litigation Assistants are also already exceeding their work-in-progress fees from the most recent cohort.

Creating a leadership pipeline and increasing female representation
Professional services | 1000+ employees | Multiple locations

This leading security and facility services company developed the Next Level Leadership programme to increase the number of managers ready for General Manager (GM) roles, to meet the organisation’s future growth plans, and to address a lack of female senior managers. 51% of UK participants have been promoted and the UK now has the leadership pipeline to meet business needs for the next 3-5 years. Female GM representation has also increased from 20% to 31%.

Using coaching to empower leaders to lead
Professional services | 1000+ employees | London

This professional services firm recognises that its value comes from the knowledge, skills and experience of its people. It devised an internal Coaching Development Programme focusing on coaching leaders to be empowered to improve performance, progress talent faster and support diverse thinking. Outcomes from the programme include a 12.8% attrition rate of those who have received coaching compared to a 17.9% attrition rate for the wider business.

This full-service Volvo HGV franchise provides parts and servicing for Volvo trucks and buses as well as truck sales. Facing a skills shortage in a competitive labour market, the business recruited 44 technicians from South Africa. The programme, which provides technicians with the skills needed to be a productive member of the workforce alongside support around adapting to life in a new country, has led to 100% qualification completion rates and a 16% increase in its technician workforce.

This training provider of apprenticeship standards recruits sector specialists to become Vocational Tutors. Many have either never done an apprenticeship or did one many years ago. The business introduced a Learning Mentor Apprenticeship to introduce tutors to operational procedures and assessment principles and requirements. The training has meant that tutors are enthusiastic about their own learning and feel better able to support their students.

Since achieving an Award in 2021, IBM UK has expanded its intern programme to include a summer programme and a route for students undertaking T Levels. 473 interns have been trained over the past three years creating a valuable and diverse talent pipeline, and upskilling learners with skills needed for the future including understanding generative AI. Recruitment levels are at an impressive 87%.

Providing apprentices with green skills needed for the future
Energy, chemicals and utilities | 1000+ employees | London

As a global leader in sustainable technologies, Johnson Matthey developed a Lean Six Sigma Apprenticeship Programme which is closely aligned to the strategic aims of the business. Focusing on growth in emerging green technology markets, apprentices deliver strategic projects that lead to sustained benefits back to the business, including a 90% retention rate over 4 years and impressive, proven annual savings linked to the programme.

Since achieving an Award in 2021, this specialist subcontractor in the construction industry has continued to train and develop the next level of skilled trade professionals by investing in the development of its Academy. Apprentices are offered an immersive working environment closely resembling real construction projects which facilitates a seamless transition into practical project work.

LifeScan is a world leader in blood glucose manufacturing providing products for people with diabetes. The organisation was experiencing challenges attracting qualified local applicants to its manufacturing facility, and launched the LifeScan Graduate Programme to create a talent pipeline of employees. 85 graduates have developed skills and knowledge through hands-on experience with 78% of these gaining full time roles.

The transition to electric power presented significant challenges which included upskilling sales and technical staff, for this luxury car maker. In 2021, it created the Lotus Academy and used an innovative blended learning programme with a focus on digital learning to upskill staff on Lotus EVs. Following the training, customer satisfaction ratings with test drives have increased considerably and sales have also surged.

MDDUS offers access to expert medico-legal and dento-legal advice to doctors, dentists and other healthcare professionals. In 2021, increasing membership and demand on services resulted in a need to expand Medical Practice Advisers (MPAs). A new programme was developed and 10 MPAs have undertaken the training. Outcomes include 99% of advice calls being answered by an MPA in 2023 compared with around 70% in 2020.

Preserving craft skills with bespoke training approach
Manufacturing | <50 employees | London

Sustaining the rare heritage and preserving the craft skills needed, represented a major challenge for Monnickendam Diamonds, which is one of the last diamond cutters and polishers in the UK. The business invested in a bespoke training programme using a traditional master and apprentice approach and taking between 2-5 years to complete. Six individuals have been trained with three remaining in the business, and the commitment and investment to training is paying off.

Growth through commitment to onboarding
Banking, insurance and finance | 250-999 employees | London

Since achieving an Award in 2021, this company – which operates with over 150 mortgage intermediary businesses – has maintained its growth targets and increased its adviser numbers by 36.5%. MAB uses onboarding training to meet the development needs of its advisers and ensure that they are fully compliant in the required systems and standards and this approach has supported the growth of the organisation.

Over the past seven years this charity has delivered the Foundations of Leadership and Management Programme designed to support organisational culture change and enhance leadership capabilities of managers and staff. 98 people have completed the programme which builds confidence, improves communication and fosters a collaborative environment to managing change. Outcomes include a 10% increase in staff engagement following the training.

The National Theatre developed an apprenticeship programme to address both a lack of diversity in the workforce and skills shortages in backstage roles, particularly focusing on technical and craft areas. Since 2011, 86% of apprentices have completed the training and 90% remain with the profession. In a sector typically resistant to entrants without HE qualifications, the National Theatre has challenged the norm, diversified its workforce and worked towards closing an acute skills gap.

Upskilling employees to improve service offer to people facing barriers
Charities and not-for-profit | <50 employees | Leeds

Offploy is a social enterprise dedicated to supporting individuals facing barriers into secure and stable employment. Implemented in June 2023, Offploy trained 10 staff members in Information, Advice and Guidance training to improve caseload management. The training led to reducing participant programme completion times from referrals to employment by 11 days and increasing retention rates of participants on programmes from 60% to 71%.

Improving culture through emotional intelligence focused training
Construction and engineering | 1000+ employees | York

To better support first line managers, this house building business introduced two new training programmes: the Personal Development Programme and the Management Development Programme. Both programmes have equipped previously task-oriented managers with the skills of delegation and motivating staff with learning focusing on emotional intelligence and action-based leadership. Staff satisfaction with their line managers has increased and attrition of trained managers is 28% less compared to managers who haven’t undertaken the training.

Since achieving an Award in 2020, this organisation which works to enhance the skills and capability of UK suppliers in the aerospace sector, continues to provide a flexible programme of learning centred around coaching in business transformation for clients and staff. Over 100 business coaches have been trained and staff have engaged in over 2,000 hours of development activity with engagement levels improving year-on-year.

South Wales Police created the Springboard training programme to increase female representation across all ranks. The four-day blended programme focuses on behavioural and attitudinal factors as research indicated this is what was causing barriers to women in applying for promotions. Of the 145 officers who have participated, 97 have been promoted since attending, and 37% of officers are now female compared to a previous 27.9%.

Since achieving the Award in 2019 for its apprenticeship programme, this steel producing company has continued to invest in training and developing its people is at the heart of its strategy. The company identified that 30% of its workforce was aged over 50 and has recruited 1,500 trainees onto programmes ranging from levels 2 to 7, successfully creating sustainable talent pipelines. The company receives 1,500 applications for the 200-300 apprenticeships it has available each year.

Using In-house training to develop specialist skills
Manufacturing | 50-249 employees | Witham

This technology-driven design, engineering and manufacturing business in the automotive industry created an inhouse training pathway for people previously unskilled in carbon fibre automotive manufacturing. As well as creating a talent pipeline, the training has facilitated the development of specialist skills, provided career progression opportunities and has also increased female representation in the business.

This group of luxury hotels launched the Rethink Green programme in 2022 after realising that energy costs had increased from 16 cents to 45 cents per unit, and staff survey responses flagged a desire to be greener. ‘Green leads’ were trained on how to identify and implement energy saving practices across all departments. Target savings of over €300,000 have been exceeded and staff have been trained to be work more sustainably on an ongoing basis.

Using training to address real industry challenges
Hospitality | <50 employees | Fleet

Since achieving an Award in 2021, the Master Innholders has continued to invest in its Aspiring Leaders Programme which develops junior managers in the hospitality sector. With the strategic need more intense than ever in a sector that is dealing with a depleted labour market, reducing margins, and operational pressure, this continued investment in training is leading to positive retention and development in the industry. Notably, 92% of learners from the past three cohorts still working within the sector.

Equipping University students to tutor children from low-income backgrounds
Charities and not-for-profit | <50 employees | Virtual

This charitable social enterprise delivers free tutorials in Maths and English to Year 5 and 6 pupils from low-income backgrounds. The programme trains University students to deliver the tuition sessions which equips them with enhanced knowledge, experience and employability skills. In 2022, 132 tutors were trained which resulted in 786 families being supported through the tutorials. Over 75% of graduate tutors over the past 10 years have also gained meaningful employment within 6 months.

Achieving excellence through leadership investment
Pharmaceuticals and healthcare | 250-999 employees | Stratford-upon-Avon

This family-owned, independent provider of home care services received an Award in 2021. Since then, it has continued to use its leadership programme to deliver high quality care and support. Over the past three years the organisation has doubled in size and the training delivered is seen as instrumental in increased staff retention figures, a high number of internal promotions and the business has achieved ‘Centre for Excellence’ status.

With a vision to remain the world leader in Motorsport and High-Performance Automotive transmission systems, Xtrac achieved an Award in 2021 for its apprenticeship programme. Since then it has opened a training academy, enhanced its mentoring network and introduced End Point Assessments. Xtrac uses its apprenticeship offer to meet the company’s ambitious growth targets and apprenticeship results are consistently at a 100% achievement level.