Mortgage Advice Bureau Network Partner Scotland has been awarded the Princess Royal Training Award 2019 for its Mortgage Processing Training Programme, the second time in two years it has been given the royal seal of approval.

The award honours employers who have created outstanding training and skills development programmes which have resulted in exceptional commercial benefits, and will be presented during a prestigious ceremony at St James’ Palace, London on 30 October 2019.

Each employer receiving the award has displayed a unique dedication to developing their workforce. Mortgage Advice Bureau Network Partner Scotland received the accreditation for its Mortgage Processing Training Programme.

In assessing our suitability for the award, the judges looked at:

  • How training and learning is integral to the organisation
  • The specific challenge/opportunity that was addresses with this course
  • How the programme was designed and implemented
  • The impact of the programme on our business
  • The impact of the programme on our colleagues
  • How other businesses could learn from us

Speaking about the award, the company’s Senior Training & Performance Manager, Darren Polson, said: “Our business is about people. This is one of our fundamental beliefs and it’s reflected in our approach to the training, development and investment in our people. Last year we were delighted to win the award for our Adviser Training performance but this year is maybe even more special as it recognises the hard work of our processing team who are integral to our customer's journey. We are proud of our own in-house training department and credit must go to Kieran McKay and Jaimie Robertson who are critical in the ongoing success of this programme".

The awards are delivered by the City & Guilds Group, whose president, HRH The Princess Royal, is a keen advocate of skills development. Speaking about this year’s recipients, Chris Jones, Chief Executive of the City & Guilds Group expressed his delight at the range of awards:“We were thrilled with the quality and variety of entries this year. The work that HR and L&D teams do to train, upskill and reskill teams is critical; helping individuals to reach their potential and find meaningful employment, while supporting businesses in developing the skills for success, and ultimately producing the productive workforce we so urgently need. The organisations we recognise today all provide compelling evidence that tangibly proves the value that comes from investing in people.”

This year saw clear trends in the types of training programmes demonstrating exceptional quality and impact. Apprenticeship programmes have become a mainstay and focus of learning and development for many organisations, whose expansion programme is underpinned by its significant apprenticeship investment.

There was a noticeable trend for organisations, to take a more holistic view of employee well-being and offer ‘preventative’ learning and development - focusing on issues of mental health and its impact not only within the workplace but as a ‘whole life’ problem. 

 Chris Jones continued, “It is hugely encouraging to see businesses prioritising skills development in areas where we are seeing the most pressing skills gaps – such as leadership. In a period of increasing uncertainty, we need organisations who are willing to go the extra mile in developing talent fit for the future. We look forward to celebrating and sharing the inspirational work of all the PRTA winners who have so unequivocally demonstrated measurable results from their training.”