Membership
Awards 2026
Shining a light on exceptional educators
Meet the 2026 recipients of the Membership Awards, 11 outstanding tutors and trainers recognised for going above and beyond to transform lives through skills and training.
2026
recipients
About
the Awards
Recognising excellence across sectors
Now in its third year, the Membership Awards celebrate the people who make skills matter; those whose passion and commitment are creating opportunities, inspiring confidence and helping people develop the skills they need to succeed. This year, 11 exceptional tutors and trainers are being recognised for the lasting impact of their work, which is felt every day by learners, staff and the organisations they support.
From apprenticeship leaders to workplace trainers, the 2026 recipients reflect the talent and expertise that drive skills development across the UK. Together, they represent sectors from healthcare and pharmaceuticals to technology, hospitality and social care.
Among this year’s recipients are professionals from organisations including Acas, IBM UK, GSK, Teleperformance, The Clink Charity, Unique Senior Care and Nebula Consulting. Many also work within organisations previously recognised through the prestigious Princess Royal Training Awards, reflecting a continued commitment to high-quality workplace training.
2026 recipients
The City & Guilds Foundation is delighted to announce the 11 outstanding tutors and trainers recognised as recipients of the 2026 Membership Awards.
Garry
Besford
Kaiseemi
Chengapen-Joshi
Jo
Cleary
John
Griffin
Steve
Head
Harry
Kelly
Michelle
Moody
Chris
Morris
Caroline
Osborne-White
Sean
Stratton
Graham
Watts
What connects this year’s Membership Award recipients is the difference they make. Their achievements include modernising apprenticeship programmes, strengthening leadership capability, creating more accessible opportunities and introducing new approaches that deliver measurable results for both individuals and employers.
The results of their work can be seen in learners gaining qualifications, progressing in their careers and growing in confidence. Beyond their day-to-day roles, many have also contributed to mentoring programmes, industry partnerships and professional networks, sharing knowledge and helping to inspire the next generation of tutors and trainers.
Selected through a rigorous assessment process, Membership Awards recipients embody the City & Guilds Foundation’s belief that skills change lives and that those who champion, share and inspire others deserve to be recognised and celebrated. Each recipient is awarded Membership of the City and Guilds of London Institute (MCGI), recognising their professional standing and contribution to skills.
Garry Besford MCGI
Head of Capability, ACAS
Garry is Head of Capability at Acas and has been a trainer for 15 years. Garry works across all organisational levels, from new managers to the Executive Board, showing that his expertise is trusted in a wide range of contexts.
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Beyond delivering training, he develops other trainers through train-the-trainer activity and contributes to external learning through community workshops and CIPD teaching. Garry demonstrates the professional expertise, strategic influence and commitment to developing others that is expected of a Membership Award recipient.
Kaiseemi Chengapen-Joshi MCGI
Head of Learning and Talent Development, Nebula Consulting
Kaiseemi is Head of Learning and Talent Development at Nebula Consultingith, with over 16 years’ experience across retail, manufacturing, social care, charity and technology sectors.
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Kaiseemi has transformed learning and development from a support function into a strategic business enabler. Since joining Nebula, she has established key organisational frameworks including the Leadership Competency Framework, Talent Management Strategy, onboarding programme, buddy system and company-wide feedback culture. These initiatives have strengthened succession planning, leadership capability and employee development across the organisation.
Jo Cleary MCGI
Learning and Development Manager, Unique Senior Care
Jo is the Learning and Development Manager at Unique Senior Care. She currently leads the entire learning and development function at Unique Senior Care with full strategic, design and delivery responsibility.
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97% of evaluations across more than 1,250 sessions rated 5-star or excellent, and structured support has taken colleagues through Level 2, 3 and 5 qualifications, with 80% of operational managers and 66% of the L&D team having progressed from frontline roles.
John Griffin MCGI
Foundation Learning & Development Leader, IBM UK
John is the Foundation Learning & Development Leader at IBM UK. He has an impressive 25 year track record of contribution to shaping the sector and the business through outstanding, national leading and progressive L&D design and delivery.
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Steve Head MCGI
Lead Horticulture Trainer, Clink Charity
Steve is the Lead Horticulture Trainer at the Clink Charity and has spent over 17 years in a training and education role. He has achieved Master’s Level Horticulture qualifications and uses horticulture as a therapeutic tool to build confidence, resilience, self-esteem and aspiration.
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Dr Henry (Harry) Kelly MCGI
Director of UK Medicinal Chemistry Recruitment and Talent Development, GSK
Harry is the Director, UK Medicinal Chemistry Recruitment and Talent Development at GSK and has impressive scientific credentials, proven recognition in the industry, and a genuine passion for developing the next generation.
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Through the programmes, Harry has had a demonstrable impact on learners (with high pass rates and improved career progression rates) as well as the organisation, winning multiple awards (including PRTAs – something he picked out as a highlight of his L&D career), securing impressive investment, and satisfying the universities involved who want to continue the collaboration to 2033.
Michelle Moody MCGI
Regional Training Manager, Persimmon PLC
Michelle is Regional Training Manager at Persimmon PLC. Her career progression from operational leadership into training provides a valuable dual perspective, enabling her to deliver practical, relevant learning.
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Her role has transformed the organisation’s approach to leadership development, successfully embedding a culture where development is valued, psychologically safe and accessible. Her influence has extended beyond the classroom, shaping organisational culture, supporting senior leaders, promoting inclusion within a traditionally less diverse sector, and creating development pathways that have contributed to career progression across the business.
Chris Morris MCGI
Organisational Skills & Career Advsory Expert, Teleperformance
Chris is Organisational Skills & Career Advsory Expert at Teleperformance. His progression has been organic rather than credentialled, built on strong communication skills, subject matter expertise and a research-led, problem-solving mindset.
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Chris has reviewed the entire learning catalogue at Teleperformance specifically through an accessibility lens, producing bite-sized accessible resources as a result. He has played a demonstrable role in retaining experienced talent and has met the standards and ethos of the Awards.
Dr Caroline Osborne-White MCGI
Medicolegal Consultant & Trainer, MPS
Caroline is a Medicolegal Consultant & Trainer and has made an outstanding contribution to learning and development within Medical Protection Society (MPS).
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Through the programme she co-developed and delivers, the time taken for new MLCs to become fully competent has reduced from approximately three years to around 11-12 months, while trainee satisfaction scores increased from 76% in 2022 to 90% in 2024. Audit performance has also improved significantly, with first audit pass rates increasing from 33% to 100%, demonstrating both the quality and effectiveness of her training approach.
Sean Stratton MCGI
Culinary Lead Coach, Umbrella Training
Sean is Culinary Lead Coach at Umbrella Training and combines a rare depth of formal qualification and industry seniority with sustained, evidenced learner outcomes well above sector benchmarks, and a clear personal commitment to inclusion that runs through his entire practice.
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Graham Watts MCGI
Curriculum and Performance Manager, Total People
Graham is the Curriculum and Performance Manager for Automotive/Engineering at Total People. After 18 years learning his trade in the automotive industry, he transferred to a training role, where he has spent the last 30 years delivering vocational training.