Aspiring Talent through Learning and Development Award
New for 2025 – In partnership with Skills for Care and Penguin Training
Award Description:
This award celebrates individuals, teams, or organisations who are passionate about learning and development in adult social care — including apprentices, students, early-career professionals, and those who support their journey.
Open to any person aged 16 or over – up to mature learners with standout aspiring talent, who is currently studying a social care related course/qualification across the academic spectrum, on placement, work experience or engaging in recognised further study to progress their career.
It recognises those who champion innovative approaches to training, mentorship, and career progression, and who are actively building a skilled, confident, and future-ready care workforce.
Watch Mike Bailey from Skills for Care explain the award criteria for the Aspiring Talent through Learning and Development category.
Nominees May Include:
- Aspiring professionals such as apprentices, students or newly qualified workers who show exceptional promise as the next generation of social care leaders.
- Mentors, educators or teams leading and delivering high-quality learning and development.
- Care services or partnerships creating meaningful progression pathways and nurturing emerging talent in the sector.
Nomination Criteria – Nominees should demonstrate how they meet any/all the following:
- A strong commitment to continuous learning and development
- Evidence of innovative approaches to training, mentoring or workforce development
- Demonstrable impact on personal growth – either their own, or the development of others
- Inspiring and supporting others to pursue careers in care
- Contribution to improving service quality through skills development
- Successful partnerships with education or training providers
- Creative use of apprenticeships, placements or progression schemes
- Gone above and beyond to give back and positively impact their college, workplace, or community they have done something exceptional which makes them stand out
- Promotion of social care as a rewarding career choice
- Demonstrating leadership potential as an aspiring or emerging talent
- Embedding learning as a core part of culture in a team or organisation