National Training Awards 2005 Open For Entries

UK Skills today exhorted all organisations that have reaped the rewards of training and achieved business success to enter the prestigious 2005 National Training Awards. The deadline for entries this year is 29th April.

This year, UK Skills is building on the success of past years and hosting a series of free half-day NTA workshops across the UK, run by experienced training professionals, to help formulate entries. Workshop details are included below.

Last year, there was a significant increase in entries from key industry sectors, showing that companies want to demonstrate they are investing in training. In 2004, the IT and telecoms sector had a 36% increase in entries, transport and distribution (48%), food and drink, retail (36%), and local authorities (83%).

Dr. Graeme Hall, the newly appointed Chief Executive of UK Skills, the organisation which runs the National Training Awards on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), said:

The National Training Awards are often viewed as a barometer of the UKís changing attitudes to training. Last year we had over 1,000 entrants and 300 winners from 23 industry areas across the UK. These impressive figures show that more and more employers are recognising training as a vital part of business development and benefiting from the direct bottom-line boost that it brings.

Rewarding employees and organisations is one of the most effective ways to ensure that they get involved in training. Entering schemes like the widely acclaimed National Training Awards provides an extra incentive to participate and excel at the organisational and personal level. It is a great opportunity to reward those who have taken part in and achieved success through training. With this in mind, we hope to see record entries in 2005, our 19th year and we warmly encourage businesses to participate.

The Awards cover Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and nine regions across England; they are open to organisations and individuals who have achieved career success and personal fulfilment through training. 2004 winners were drawn from a range of sectors, from leisure to manufacturing to the voluntary sector. Winners included: National Grid Transco; Jobcentre Plus and Energy & Utility Skills; Airbus UK & Deeside College; and Hilton UK & Ireland and David Evans & Associates.

Last year, the areas with the largest number of winners were: the West Midlands (14%), London (13%) and the North East (13%), followed by the East of England and the North West (11% each).

Overall, last year, 54% of entrants were from the private sector, 28% from the public sector and 7% from the voluntary sector.* Of the organisations that reached the final stages of the 2004 competition, 61% classified themselves as Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs), with fewer than 250 staff.

To enter the National Training Awards or book a place at a workshop, call 0800 917 7337 or visit