A group of colleagues in culinary class
Learning and Development Best Companies Special Award 2021 Logo

Learning &
Development Special Awards

Recognising and showcasing those that have
excelled in the area of Learning and Development

The Best Companies ‘Special Award’ for Learning and Development is given to one organisation in each size category annually to reflect outstanding commitment to the personal goals and ambitions of their people.

We shortlist for the award using the information you provide us about your people and culture in your cultural insights when you undertake a survey. We ask questions relating to the initiatives or policies in place that relate to ‘Learning and Development’, which allows us to identify the efforts being made to enable employees to gain the skills and knowledge they need to grow.

Shortlisted companies’ answers are anonymised and reviewed by an independent judging panel, who select the winning organisation in each category.

Winners are then revealed during an annual ceremony each November, in conjunction with the publication of the final League Table of the Best Companies to Work For each year.

The 2022 Winners

Small Companies
Learning and Development
Special Award Winner
Mid-Sized Companies
Learning and Development
Special Award Winner
Large Companies
Learning and Development
Special Award Winner
Big Companies
Learning and Development
Special Award Winner

The 2022 winners in focus...

The winners of the Special Award for Learning and Development in 2022 were all united in the belief that despite the challenges of the pandemic, employees wanted to continue their own personal growth, with training opportunities and courses giving them a sense of security and satisfaction.

For Energize Group, the winner in the small category, investing in sophisticated training programmes has helped empower their employees and provide all the resources they need to take control of their personal development. Industry experts also provide regular external training sessions to those who want them on a range of different subjects. This year they have implemented equality, diversity and inclusion training and hope to share this knowledge with their clients.

The winner in the mid-sized category, Gearset, has made a huge dedication to their staff and how they support development across every department. They have invested in a number of programmes, including feedback, personal development, internship, aspiring managers, management development, and support from the People team programmes, which enable them to have a finger on the pulse of employee needs and provide an array of training options to suit each individual.

The winner of the large category, Costello Medical, stood out for its rapid and tailored career progression programme. They have shown a tremendous commitment to the development of their employees by providing them with endless training opportunities, from internal training to funded external courses and paid study leave. They have also committed to a limitless promotion structure where employees can be promoted every 6 months.

For Skipton Building Society, winner in the big category, Brilliant People is a key pillar in their company strategy. Adding initiatives, such as self-directed learning, building a better you week and holding training sessions across the company, has given each employee access to a wealth of resources to help them further their knowledge and develop within the organisation. They also recently launched their Graduate Leadership to inspire the continued learning and incorporation of technology.

The Importance of Personal Growth

The winners of the 2022 Learning and Development Special Award were invited to discuss the initiatives that earned them the accolade during the first ever edition of Best Companies Live. Click to watch the video of the highlights:
Best Companies Live Day 2 session, comprising of the Small and Mid-Sized Wellbeing Award Winners and Small and Mid-Sized Learning & Development Award Winners
Best Companies Live Day 3 session, comprising of the Large and Big Wellbeing Award Winners and Large and Big Learning & Development Award Winners
Learning and Development Best Companies Special Award 2021 Logo

In good company...

In 2021 Openreach wont the award for the continuation of employee training throughout the pandemic was imperative, not least as it took on over thousands of new engineers. The company converted an old workshop into a Covid-safe, state-of-the-art training facility known as ‘Open Street’ – a 770 square metre replica street, built from scratch to recreate the real network in the outside world. The new training environment has been so successful that it spawned the development of several other centres delivering similar facilities across the UK.

The Learning and Development Special Award has previously been awarded (2019) to tech and engineering recruitment firm, Roc Search, for its commitment to establishing multiple career training prog ‘Reverse rammes for employees at all levels – from new recruits through to managers and the leadership team. It also stood out for incorporating outside of work targets into its goal setting and review process – helping staff reach their personal and professional goals.

Learning & Development Top 5 2022

Learning & Development
‍Small Companies
Top 5
Learning & Development
Mid-Sized Companies
Top 5
Learning & Development
Large Companies
Top 5
Learning & Development
Big Companies
Top 5

Benefits of a Special Award...

Being awarded the Special Award for Learning and Development shows that you not only care about your employees, but also their personal growth and career progress.

How employees feel about training and their future prospects is one of the eight key factors of engagement – meaning that going the extra mile in this area can have a positive impact on job satisfaction, retention numbers and overall performance.

It’s a unique opportunity to gain recognition as a responsible employer, as well as an accolade that can help you stand out against the competition.

As a winner in your size category, you’ll receive marketing and publicity from Best Companies, as well as the opportunity to discuss your achievement during one of our live events.

Recent Winners

Some recent Special Award winners include...

Do you have what it takes to become a 2023 Special Award winner?

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Other special awards

Want to find out more about our other Special Awards, the winners and what goes into winning them...