Crest Nicholson wins Princess Royal Training Award

Crest Nicholson is commended by the 2018 Princess Royal Training Award, in recognition of its internal training aimed at tackling the building industry skills gap.

The award for “Tackling Sector Skills Gap” was granted for the housebuilder’s Delivering Professional Excellence training initiative. As part of this umbrella training initiative, 19% of team members at Crest Nicholson are now on a formal learning and development plan. A further 88% of employees have also carried out an annual skills review with their line manager to support their career progression.

The training initiative has reportedly enjoyed huge success since its inception in 2014, with a number of organisational improvements including a reduction in staff turnover. The initiative is also said to have been instrumental in increasing the number of female hires across career development programmes, including the graduate and apprenticeship schemes.

The Princess Royal Training Awards is an accolade for UK employers that have created lasting impact, by successfully linking their skills and development needs to business performance. Forty-eight UK businesses, from a wide range of sectors, have achieved the Princess Royal Training Awards standard of excellence in training, in 2018.

Anthony Wilkinson, head of talent development at Crest Nicholson, commented on securing the award: “As a responsible employer we are committed to supporting our team members in their career development. This award embodies our commitment. We decided to launch the Delivering Professional Excellence initiative to ensure everyone at Crest Nicholson could access appropriate career development opportunities.

“Learning and development in the housebuilding industry is more important than ever as we’re facing the biggest skills gap we ever had in the industry. As a housebuilder we have a duty to support in solving this gap. One key short-term solution is ensuring those already in the industry are able to have the opportunities to discuss how they can upskill in their current role. We must also continue to attract new talent for our graduate, apprenticeship, trainee and work placement programmes – showcasing the diversity and inclusivity that a career in new homebuilding can bring.”

Chris Jones, group chief executive at the Princess Royal Training Awards, said: “Congratulations to all 48 organisations who have achieved the Princess Royal Training Awards standard of excellence this year. Once again, it is evidence of the very real benefits that investing in staff development can bring to employers, large and small, private, public and not for profit. At a time of increasing economic uncertainty and reduced investment into workforce development it is great to see critical business issues being addressed through L&D investments. Through the awards we highlight excellent examples of training that have already proved to be effective and we encourage others to build on their success.”