Two Welsh colleges gained recognition for their training programmes as the recipients of the 2025 Princess Royal Training Awards were announced by City & Guilds last week.
Now in its tenth year, The Princess Royal Training Awards continue to recognise organisations who demonstrate exceptional commitment to learning and development, and is now established as a prestigious and sought-after accolade in this field.
Coinciding with HRH The Princess Royal’s 75th birthday, the 10th year of the Awards saw recognition for training programmes which addressed challenges in sectors including construction, hospitality, education and not-for-profit.
In response to the problem of high absenteeism arising from staff experiencing perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms, Swansea’s Gower College launched an initiative consisting of menopause awareness sessions for all managers, specialist clinics for affected employees, and a dedicated support app. The programme reduced absences by two thirds, lowered staff turnover and achieved substantial annual savings to NHS services.
Cardiff and Vale College was awarded for its Teaching for Excellence programme which revitalised classroom practice post-COVID. Through courses, modules and other support for its tutors, the programme succeeded in improving results in underperforming departments by up to 24%, while achieving sustainable improvement across faculties.
Kirstie Donnelly MBE, Chief Executive of City & Guilds said:
“This year’s Princess Royal Training Awards recipients have presented innovative approaches to challenges within their organisations which are highly representative of wider challenges within UK business and society, tackling problems including skills gaps and attracting quality applicants.”
Angharad Lloyd Beynon, Senior Policy, Stakeholder and Partnerships Manager (Nations and Ireland) at City & Guilds said:
“I’m delighted that two Welsh colleges have been recognised with the prestigious Princess Royal Training Award. This achievement is a testament to their commitment to excellence in training and skills development, and reflects the dedication of their staff. It’s inspiring to see colleges in Wales setting such a high standard and making a real difference for our communities and future workforce.”
