Assessor team

Fenella brings a wealth of experience in education, learning management and assessment to her role as Chief Assessor for the Princess Royal Training Awards.

Fenella explains that the best thing about being an Assessor for the Princess Royal Training Awards is:

“Being able to look under the bonnet of organisations of all shapes and sizes to understand – in great detail – the learning and development they are providing and how it is having an impact. That’s a real privilege.”

Paul is a Quality Assurance Manager with 40 years’ experience in human resources and professional development in both the UK and the US. Paul says:

“I have enjoyed the opportunity to be part of a truly national awards process that seeks to identify, celebrate and share excellence in training/learning and development across all organisational sectors in the United Kingdom.”

Heather is Deputy Chief Assessor with over 20 years’ experience in human resources within the public, charity and private sectors.

In her role as Deputy Chief Assessor for the Princess Royal Training Awards, Heather values the opportunity to gain a snapshot of how a whole range of organisations work and how they ensure best practice in developing their people. For her, a key highlight is:

“Seeing the difference that a good well planned and delivered piece of training can make both to people and their organisation. Also, getting a palpable feeling of enthusiasm from people who have received training that they value – it is so inspiring.”

Peter has over 30 years’ experience in Learning & Development across both public and private sectors and was elected to the City and Guilds Council in 2020. In describing a key highlight of his role as Assessor, Peter explains:

“It’s the moment at the awards ceremony when we can congratulate recipients and they recognise that their programmes are amongst the best in the UK.”

Jill is an Investors in People specialist, qualified Assessor, IQA and EQA, and assesses and delivers teaching qualifications to work-based learning providers and ILM Leadership and Management qualifications to a wide range of organisations. For Jill, being an Assessor enables her to:

“Appreciate first-hand the commitment people have at all levels to effectively develop their people to benefit both the organisation and the business. Gaining knowledge of best practice has enabled me to share that with the organisations I work with in my other roles.”

Nicola’s HR career spans over 20 years in senior HR roles, interim management and consultancy in the UK and internationally, with a successful track record in the blue chip, financial and service sectors.

When asked what the best thing about being an Assessor for the Princess Royal Training Awards is for her, Nicola says:

“It is an honour to be involved in the most prestigious and rigorous UK-based L&D awards and to see examples of L&D that really work. And seeing the award recipients receive their award from HRH is really special.”

Paul is a highly skilled Learning & Development professional with qualifications in assessment and quality assurance, education and management. He sees many benefits of being an Assessor including:

“Meeting so many interesting people keen to showcase how they are using L&D to develop people and hearing from learners how the opportunities they have been given to gain new skills have made an impact in their work and home life – literally changing lives in some instances.” 

Carolyn brings significant experience of learning and development, management and assessment from a range of sectors to her Assessor role.

Carolyn is returning to her Assessor role for the Princess Royal Training Awards after being involved in its first year and says:

“The support and encouragement given to entrants by this Award is truly incredible and I am looking forward to being challenged by the huge variety of training programmes being delivered in very different circumstances, but most of all just enjoying the passion that drives people to apply!”

Tim is an accomplished training and development practitioner with a passion for teaching and people development. An academic for 20 years, he has authored a number of text books and is currently Balfour Beatty’s commercial training manager. In this role he has supported the organisation through three successful Princess Royal Training Award applications.

Tim says: “With its Royal recognition and rigorous focus on impactful training, the Awards are industry leading. My role as an Assessor provides me with the opportunity to serve, support and contribute to the continued success of the Awards.”

Nimesh is an experienced senior leader with over 20 years’ experience in industry, having applied his expertise to operational, leadership and strategic roles across a breadth of different sectors.

Qualified and experienced in the development and delivery of training coupled with professional coaching & mentoring and a focus on wider personal and business outcomes, Nimesh firmly believes that finding, supporting, developing and then fine-tuning the best of everybody’s natural abilities is one of the most powerful pathways to success in any situation.

Of his own experience of achieving an Award for Galliford Try, Nimesh says: “As a past recipient of this prestigious Award and with an understanding of the value the process holds, I wanted to help others shine a light on their L&D initiatives with the hope that those initiatives continue to develop and grow individual and business-wide capabilities and to help those businesses achieve their purpose.”

With 30 years’ experience in professional skin care and skin care education, including a 25-year tenure at global skincare brand Dermalogica, Candice is an experienced learning leader in skills-led education programme design and development.

As an active advocate for technical and vocational training, she participates widely in standards and EPA development and employer steering for government recognised and regulated organisations to advance the Beauty, Aesthetics and Wellbeing sector.

When asked what she will bring to the role Candice says: “My background in skills-led education in the commercial context has given me a deep understanding of business and people impact when the right training is in place.”

Richard has extensive experience as a consultant, trainer and facilitator specialising in leadership, business process management and the implementation of change in both the corporate and public sectors.

Asked what he enjoys most about being an Assessor for the Princess Royal Training Awards, he says:

“I look forward to the Application Review Process stage and seeing how training ambitions have translated into tangible results for both the organisation and the individuals involved. Seeing the words on the application come to life is an exciting prospect.”