MPCT earns royal approval

A military training organisation, which has helped 20,000 young people boost their academic, fitness and practical skills, has been granted a prestigious Princess Royal Training Award.

MPCT’s 28 Military Preparation Colleges across England and Wales provide free courses, run by ex-British Armed Forces personnel, to prepare 16-19-year-olds for both civilian and military careers.

While many students go on to join one of the three services – the Royal Navy, the British Army and the RAF – many others use the skills they have gained as a springboard to further or higher education or as a route to civilian jobs.

Currently in its sixth year, The Princess Royal Training Awards recognise and celebrate organisations across the United Kingdom which have demonstrated exceptional commitment to training and development.

This has included using training to adapt to changing business needs and national skills shortages throughout the pandemic and delivering highly engaging training programmes which have resulted in significant measurable impact.

Among the initiatives implemented by MPCT throughout the Covid pandemic was its Mental Health at Work Plan.

The plan was originally designed to help its staff promote mental well-being within the organisation and specifically among its learners, many of whom struggled with anxiety, low self-esteem and lack of confidence.

But, as concerns grew of the impact of the crisis on the general public’s mental health, it made the booklet – containing practical, self-care tips, more widely available.

MPCT is one of just 46 organisations across the UK to receive the 2021 award, with others including Barclays, HMRC and Sky UK.

And founder and CEO Huw Lewis MBE said:

“We are delighted to join some of the UK’s largest and most respected companies in being granted a Princess Royal Training Award.

“Many of our learners come to us because they either don’t know what they want to do with their lives or lack the confidence and self esteem to fulfil their potential.

“Many also experienced uncertainty, fear and isolation during the Covid crisis and I am very proud of the way in which staff at all our centres worked to minimise that and kept our learners inspired and motivated.”

Kirstie Donnelly MBE, Chief Executive of the City & Guilds Group, which administers the Princess Royal Training Award, said:

“The last 18 months have caused disruption to the way most organisations operate which has led to major changes for all of us in how we live and work.

“Despite these challenges, it’s fantastic to see so many organisations’ continued commitment to training and development as well as the positive and life changing impact learning can have on people. “