National recognition for 'inspiring and innovative' programme

May Gurney has won the highest accolade in the world of training, a National Training Award, for one of its programmes.

May Gurney and TIPS for Good Management Ltd was the only partnership entry to be awarded a National Training Award at the East of England event in Cambridge.

The awards are run by UK Skills on behalf of the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills, and recognise 'exceptional achievement through training and development'.

The programme, which May Gurney has been operating for five years, aims to improve the company's effectiveness and competitiveness while reducing costs.

In this time its achievements include introducing time management techniques to free up time to win new business worth £600,000, and reducing the cost of concrete waste from driven piles by £250,000 by improving process techniques. The total business benefits of TIPS for Good Management have been identified as being worth £1.7 million to the company to date.

The programme has been developed and managed by Rosanne Goose, Learning & Development Manager at May Gurney and Julian Hammond of training provider TIPS for Good Management Ltd. The delivery team also includes Christine Goose (Trainer, May Gurney) and Chris Liles with support from Carl Hammond (both TIPS for Good Management Ltd).

Rosanne Goose said: "TIPS for Good Management is a structured programme which brings about business improvement, increased management ability and creates cultural differentiation for the company.

"This award is a real endorsement of the hard work everyone involved has put in and the successes of the delegates. It means a great deal to the company to be recognised for its commitment to training."

Former 110m hurdles world champion Colin Jackson hosted the ceremony in Cambridge at which May Gurney's award win was announced. Mr Jackson hailed the TIPS for Good Management programme 'inspiring, innovative and exciting'.

The National Training Awards will be presented at a ceremony in London on 13 December.