>> Winners revealed 15th July in Central London. Click here to reserve your place. <<
With a record 423 entries received from organisations across the UK, competition to be named a Finalist was truly exceptional. And today, the British Training Awards Judging panel is proud to reveal its 2026 Finalists!
Powered by employee insight platform, New Possible, the British Training Awards set out to discover and celebrate the teams and individuals who are passionate about L&D's role in building a thriving workforce. Organisations taking part this year range from start-up pioneers to tech unicorns, global titans, not-for-profits and everything in between. Irrespective of organisation size, industry or resources, Finalists shared how their initiatives are transforming L&D and delivering tangible value for their organisations.
Winners will be announced at a special celebration event on Wednesday 15th July at the iconic Grand Hall of the Grand Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden, London. Click here to reserve your place.
Nate Harwood, Founder of New Possible and the British Training Awards, said: "Investment in learning and development is non-negotiable for organisations to succeed in 2026. As we navigate a profound industrial shift, those equipping their people with new skills are actively building tomorrow's economy. The British Training Awards celebrate the visionary teams and individuals driving this transformation. Congratulations to all our Finalists."
A huge thanks to the British Training Awards 2026 all-star judging panel for reviewing the entries and sharing their expertise:
Paul Buckland-White, Senior Director of Global Learning and Development at Smith+Nephew / Shannon Drew, Director of Learning and Development at IRIS Software Group / Kate Large, Director of Learning & Development at Mitie / Sarah Maclot, Talent & Culture Director at Pinnacle Pet Group / Keith McDougall, Global Director of Learning & Development at Bupa / Chris McLaughlin, Head of Academies at Booking.com / Jenny Morgan, Talent & Capability Director at Royal London / Gemma Paterson, Head of Culture Innovation at Lloyds Banking Group / Matt Porter, Head of Learning and Development at Popeyes Louisiana Chicken UK / Prachi Prasad, Global Head of Leadership & Learning Development at dunnhumby / Jodie Pritchard, Director of Learning & Development at Barnardo's / Victoria Shaw, L&D Leader / Dr Leanne Simpson, Global Director Training & Technical Documentation at Smiths Detection / Thomas Stroppel, Head of Learning and Development at Dishoom / Karen Suddards, Global Learning Manager at Bentley Motors / Dr Paul Taylor-Pitt, OD Consultant and Director at Metamorphosish / Michelle Tindale, Director of Academy & Advisory at UKAS / Danielle Ware, Head of People Development at Busy Bees / Liggy Webb, Author, Presenter and Consultant
And so, without any further ado, the British Training Awards 2026 Finalists are:
Training Initiative of the Year (Private Sector): AXA Health (in partnership with Estu) | Carter Jonas | Coca-Cola Europacific Partners | Crystal Care Collection (in partnership with Freeformers) | Dishoom | Fletchers Solicitors | Gressingham Foods (in partnership with Jarrold Training) | Hogan Lovells | MBDA UK supported by t-three | MHR | Vantage Point Global
Training Initiative of the Year (Public & Not for Profit): Ask for Angela | Bloom Creative Learning | Flourish | Galt (in partnership with Freeformers) | Humberside Police | Leeds Museums and Galleries (Leeds City Council) | National Audit Office | South East Consortium | TEAM Safety Services | The Clare Foundation (in partnership with The Motivation Agency) | The Inspiring Leaders Network | Warner Music Group (WMG)
L&D Experience of the Year: Cognizant | Leonardo Hotels UK & Ireland | Paragon Skills | SIG | Smiths Detection | Workplace Options
Retraining/Upskilling Initiative of the Year: Cooper Parry | DS Smith | Kier Construction | Nationwide Building Society | Nearform | Oakland Care | OpenView Security Solutions | SailGP | St Austell Brewery and Thrive | TESS Group | The Carey Group | The Group Coaching Academy
Leadership Development Initiative of the Year (Private Sector): Cera Care | Equans UK & Ireland (in partnership with Jenny Garrett Global) | IAG Cargo | Learnmore | Outcomes Consulting | Reiss and Thrive | Smith+Nephew | VodafoneThree | Willis (part of WTW) | WorkNest (Axiom GRC)
Leadership Development Initiative of the Year (Public & Not for Profit): Alternative Futures Group (AFG) | Bupa | Government Communication Service, Cabinet Office | Housing 21 | MSI Reproductive Choices | National Audit Office | South East Consortium | The Inspiring Leaders Network | Transport for Greater Manchester | You're Invited C.I.C
Learning Culture Initiative of the Year: Barclay & Mathieson | Barnsley College | Bupa | Cognizant | Equans UK & Ireland (in partnership with Jenny Garrett Global) | Flourish | Lifetime Training | LV= Financial Services | NatWest Group - Economic Crime Hub, Learning | Reiss and Thrive | Smith+Nephew | The School of Life at Work and Arup
Early Careers Initiative of the Year: Dentsu and Amplifi | Fletchers Solicitors | HSBC (in partnership with Neueda) | Leeds Museums and Galleries (Leeds City Council) | OpenView Security Solutions | RSPCA (England & Wales) | Southern Water | The Institution of Fire Engineers | University of Cambridge Executive and Professional Education and Localized | Vantage Point Global | Warner Music Group (WMG)
Onboarding Initiative of the Year: Cognizant | Dorchester Collection Academy | John Crane (in partnership with The Motivation Agency) | Paladone | Solvd Together and Deloitte | Synopsys (in partnership with Infopro Learning) | Weatherbys Private Bank
Innovation of the Year (Sponsored by Titus): Assemble You | Baltic Apprenticeships | Carter Jonas | Delve OD (in partnership with Candle Digital) | Jaguar Land Rover | Lanes Group | Neuro Massage Training School | North West London Pathology | Synopsys (in partnership with Infopro Learning)
AI in Learning Initiative of the Year: Barnsley College | Delve OD (in partnership with Candle Digital) | Golin | Government Communication Service, Cabinet Office | HSBC (in partnership with Neueda) | Nearform | Samsung Electronics UK | Teleperformance UK | TESS Group | The Training Marketplace | Workplace Options
Awareness Campaign of the Year: Cera Care | Cygnet | Lucion | MUSE:HR & TRAINING | SIG | Solvd Together and Vodafone | The Big Apprenticeship Thank You
Start-Up of the Year: Assemble You | Freeformers | Learnt.ai | The Training Marketplace | Wren Learning Consultancy
SME of the Year: Boo Coaching & Consulting | Crystal Care Collection (in partnership with Freeformers) | The Akenham Partnership | Data & AI Literacy Academy | Framework Training | HD Learning | NSDesign | Steal These Thoughts! | The Early Years Company | Watts Sustainability
Supplier Awards
Apprenticeship Provider of the Year: Boom Training by Turing College | Ginger Nut Training | Learnmore | Lifetime Training | MichaelJohn Training School | Paragon Skills | Pendennis Shipyard | PfP Thrive | Tempdent | The Opportunity Provider
L&D Provider of the Year (<20 employees): Be Unstoppable | Bloom Creative Learning | CAPE People Development | Estu | Framework Training | Freeformers | HD Learning | Management Dynamics | The Early Years Company | Watts Sustainability
L&D Provider of the Year (20+ employees): Boom Training by Turing College | Data & AI Literacy Academy | In Professional Development | Infopro Learning | Omniplex Learning | t-three consulting | The School of Life at Work and Arup | Thrive Learning
People Awards
Leader of the Year: Alexander Lapthorne, Global Head of Training at Disguise | Ashleigh Fenwick, Head of Learning and Talent at The Inn Collection Group | Becci Martin, Founder & Director at Boo Coaching & Consulting | Charlie Howorth, Associate Director of Corporate and Strategic Development at SCW NHS CSU | Dan Howard, Commercial Director at Aspiration Training | Joshua Perkins, Head of Training at Smiths Detection | Kate Mellor, Head of L&D at Boehringer Ingelheim | Laura Maguire, Head of Learning and Development at Lanes Group | Melissa Phillips, Director & Founder of Games Leadership® | Melville Jimmy Garber, Practice Development Nurse at West London NHS Trust | Nick Holmes, VP, Learning & Culture at Avalere Health
Rising Star of the Year: Courtney Larkin, Learning & Development Coordinator at Cumberland Building Society | Diana Teaca, Learning & Development Assistant Manager at MHA | Hamida Subhan, Chief People Consultant at Outcomes Consulting | Jade Masefield, L&D Assistant at OpenView Security Solutions | James Firman, Learning & Development Partner at Boehringer Ingelheim | Jennifer Anderson, Learning and Development Manager at Sterling Home | Macey Rice, Learning and Development Executive at Leonardo Hotels UK & Ireland | Millie-Jo MacIver, Project Coordinator at Games Leadership® | Mirabela Voicu, Head of Training & Enablement at John Crane | Zidane Nguimdo, Graduate Technical Trainer at Smiths Detection
L&D Team of the Year (<1,000 employees) (Sponsored by Solvd Together): Apadmi | Boehringer Ingelheim (UK & Ireland) | Fluirse Education | Last Mile | Paladone
L&D Team of the Year (1,000+ employees) (Sponsored by Solvd Together): Cygnet | DHU Healthcare | Kroll | Leonardo Hotels UK & Ireland | Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | Omni Group | Smiths Detection | Starling Bank | Telegraph Media Group Holdings | The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) | Wickes (in partnership with Freeformers)
Sector Specific Awards
Financial Services Initiative of the Year: AXA Health (in partnership with Estu) | MHA | Nationwide Building Society | NatWest Group - Economic Crime Hub, Learning | Royal London | Starling Bank | Weatherbys Private Bank
Professional Services Initiative of the Year: Cooper Parry | Dentsu | Hogan Lovells | MHR | Stewarts
Hospitality & Leisure Initiative of the Year: Dishoom | HIT Training | Leonardo Hotels UK & Ireland | Smoke and Pepper | St Austell Brewery and Thrive | The Inn Collection Group
Not for Profit Initiative of the Year: Ask for Angela | Galt (in partnership with Freeformers) | RSPCA (England & Wales) | The Human-Centric Workplace | The Institution of Fire Engineers | You're Invited C.I.C
Public Sector Initiative of the Year: Boo Coaching & Consulting (in Partnership with North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust) | Police Scotland | TEAM Safety Services
Engineering & Manufacturing Initiative of the Year (Sponsored by The Motivation Agency): Coca-Cola Europacific Partners | Gressingham Foods (in partnership with Jarrold Training) | MBDA UK supported by t-three
Winners will be announced at the iconic Grand Hall of the Grand Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden, London, on Wednesday 15th July. This ceremony will include knowledge sharing, networking, delicious food and drink, awards and plenty of fun! Reserve your tickets and keep updated by following us on LinkedIn, X or by signing up for email updates.
Titus: Titus empowers people to improve the world through learning. They partner with leading organisations to design and deliver digital learning that genuinely makes a difference — for their people, their organisations, and the communities they serve. They care deeply about their customers, their team, and the impact of their work.
Solvd Together: Solvd Together are Workforce Evolution Designers who believe that to thrive in constant chaos, organisations need to be resilient and adaptive. As an award-winning L&D and Transformation Consultancy, they challenge conventional L&D by combining Systems Thinking, Behavioural Science and Human-centred Design to turn education into evolution, and ideas into impact.
The Motivation Agency: Equips, motivates and gives confidence to the people on the frontline, so brands deliver on the customer promise.
The British Training Awards is powered by New Possible. New Possible helps leaders build healthier organisations by providing meaningful insight that can drive real change. Find out more about our mission or book a demo.
