Lifeways earns royal recognition once again for its commitment to learning and development
Lifeways, the UK’s largest provider of support for people with complex needs in the community, has once again been awarded the prestigious Princess Royal Training Award securing recognition in two categories for its commitment to learning and development.
Formally approved by HRH The Princess Royal, the award is now in its 11th year and recognises Lifeways as one of just 56 organisations spanning sectors ranging from global security and further education to heritage crafts and prison rehabilitation.
This recognition reflects the work of Lifeways’ Learning & Development Team in redesigning its induction programme to strengthen early employee retention and workforce capacity, and additionally enhancing its apprenticeship programme to support retention, career progression and workforce capacity across the organisation.
James Westwood-Beere, Chief People Officer at Lifeways, said: “Receiving the two Princess Royal Training Awards in 2026 is a fantastic achievement for Lifeways and a real reflection of the investment we continue to make in our people and leaders.
“Central to who we are is about providing a great team member experience from day one, and developing our talent, creating opportunities for growth, and helping them build meaningful careers in our sector. This recognition demonstrates the positive impact and difference that our Learning & Development team are making to our culture, our teams and the people we support, and it is an important part of the transformation journey we are on.
“I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved through teamwork. This is something that everyone across Lifeways can feel proud of and celebrate.”
Also among this year’s 56 recipients are IBM UK, Currys and Specsavers. The recipients were selected from 132 applications submitted from across the UK, Ireland and, for the first time, beyond. Previous recipients of the award include John Lewis & Partners, JCB and OVO Energy.
Lifeways will be formally presented with the awards at a celebration ceremony in London on Tuesday 26 January 2027. To find out more, visit the Princess Royal Training Awards website. For more information about the training and development opportunities Lifeways offers, visit our new Careers Hub.