On 30 April 2025, City & Guilds hosted its second-ever Skills Share event – this time at the stunning Goldsmiths’ Hall in London – marking a major milestone: 10 years of the Princess Royal Training Awards. With over 130 Award recipients in attendance, the event was not just a celebration but a forum for shared learning, inspiration and reflection on what a decade of investment in skills development really means.
It was a special honour to once again welcome the President of the City & Guilds of London Institute, HRH The Princess Royal, whose long-standing support for the Awards continues to inspire. In conversation with Kirstie Donnelly MBE, Chief Executive of City & Guilds, HRH spoke about the importance of developing sustainable training programmes that boost confidence for both employers and employees. She commended the diverse range of organisations represented – those just beginning their Award journey as well as those who have achieved renewals –highlighting the value of keeping standards high year after year.
Diversity as a key strength
The Princess Royal Training Awards were launched in 2016 in response to what employers told us they needed; a recognition that celebrated training done well, with real impact. Over the past decade, applications for more than 1,000 training programmes have been assessed, and almost 1 million people have been positively impacted through award-winning programmes. The Awards aren’t about being the biggest or most high-profile, they’re about doing training with purpose and being able to evidence real impact. That’s why organisations from every sector – multinationals, SMEs, charities, and public sector bodies – sit side by side in this community and its diverse alumni network has become one of the Award’s key strengths.
That sense of community was felt deeply throughout the day. From the moment Kirstie Donnelly welcomed everyone by affirming that “skills change lives and shape futures,” the energy in the room was undeniable. Kirstie also unveiled A Decade in Excellence report that captures the powerful outcomes and impact of the Awards since their inception.
Hearts, hands and minds
Attendees were treated to a short film showcasing four recipient organisations and the transformational stories behind their Award journeys. Then came a keynote from Jane Wurwand, City & Guilds Fellow, Founder of Dermalogica and proud Princess Royal Training Award holder. Jane began her journey into the world of work sweeping hair off salon floors at 13 and shampooing clients at 15. She spoke movingly of the message her mother gave her as a young widow raising four daughters: “Learn how to do something.” Jane took that advice to heart and went on to turn her skills into a global business.
“Skills give you the confidence to say, ‘I can do this, and I should teach others to do this too,’” she said. “That’s the ripple effect. Education changes everything.”
Jane joined Kirstie for a fireside chat about the rigour of the Awards process and the way it had pushed her to evolve training at Dermalogica. She also spoke about embracing new technologies like AI but warned against forgetting the irreplaceable power of human connection. “AI can’t build community,” she said, “and community is essential to business success.”
The day then opened up to breakout sessions, with the first round delving into six key themes from the Awards: EDI; leadership; culture change; onboarding, apprenticeships and talent pipelines. Renee Watters from Rockleigh, spoke in the onboarding session, emphasised Rockleigh’s approach of hiring for potential rather than experience. “We never look at CVs,” she explained. “It’s about what someone can do today, and whether they’re a good fit with our culture.” Trial days and regular feedback are key elements of how Rockleigh builds strong, inclusive teams.
Back in the main room, a panel of past Award recipients brought the human stories behind the stats to life. Panellists included educational consultant Kerry Hill; Purnima Sen from Sparta Global; Andy Long from Pertemps; Chris Marrs from Xtrac; and Jane Wurwand. Kerry shared how receiving the Award was a turning point in her career as a headteacher, giving her the confidence to pursue a Master’s degree, be nominated as Headteacher of the Year, and eventually launch her own consultancy. “It was the start of something bigger,” she said. “It made me invest in myself as a leader.”
Another highlight was the presentation of the City & Guilds Fellowship Awards – the highest honour granted by the Council – to six outstanding individuals: Anthony Impey MBE, Carmen Watson DL, Nicky Taylor, Nicola Cox, Stephen Greene CBE and Tim Reading. These recipients have all demonstrated exceptional impact in technical education and skills development.
The President’s Award was presented by HRH The Princess Royal to Malachi Bakas, winner of a 2024 Membership Award, for his work training at-risk young people, another reminder of how training can truly change lives.
In her closing remarks, HRH The Princess Royal reflected on the decade-long journey of the Awards and the powerful impact of listening to employers about their training needs. She praised City & Guilds for recognising a gap and filling it with purpose and quality, resulting in an Award programme that has reached nearly one million people.
As the event came to a close, Kirstie Donnelly offered a heartfelt thank you to the incredible alumni who have shaped the Awards and set the standard for what great training looks like. “I wonder where we’ll be in another 10 years?” she said, reflecting on the ripple effect already set in motion.
The 2025 Skills Share event proved that training excellence is about people, purpose and a belief that learning can unlock potential in every corner of the workplace. And as this inspiring community showed, when this is put into practice the outcome is priceless.
