The Learning and Performance Institute is delighted to announce the 2012 Learning Award winners. We would like to thank everyone who attended the ceremony yesterday evening, sponsors, partners and finalists and huge congratulations to all of the winners.

The complete list of recipients of the 16^th annual awards follows.

Apprenticeship Programme of the Year – Sponsored by OCR

Winner: QA

External Training Project of the Year – Sponsored by Prodigy Learning

Winner: The Mind Gym & British Gas

Learning Technologies Solution of the Year – Sponsored by Microsoft

Winner: Unicorn Training Group

Live Online Learning Facilitator of the Year - Sponsored by Assima

Winner: Michelle O’Neill, Simmons & Simmons

Innovation in Training Services Award – Sponsored by Toolwire

Winner: DH e-Learning for Healthcare

Instructional Designer of the Year – Sponsored by Ricoh

Winner: Laura Hooper, Unicorn Training Group

Internal Training Project of the Year – Sponsored by Pearson

Winner: TNT Express & Assima

Social Media Programme of the Year – Sponsored by Afiniti

Winner: Happy Computers

Staff Development Programme of the Year – Sponsored by The Open University

Winner: EMC Computer Systems (UK)

Training Company of the Year – Sponsored by Prometric

Winner: Afiniti

Training Department of the Year – Sponsored by SkillSoft

Winner: Barclaycard

Training Department of the Year (Public Sector) – Sponsored by 2e2 UK

Winner: Avon and Somerset Constabulary

Trainer of the Year – Sponsored by BCS

Winner: Jim Hainie, Afiniti

Training Manager of the Year – Sponsored by REDTRAY

Winner: Dena O’Gorman, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

The Colin Corder Award – Sponsored by QA

Winner: Nigel Pain

If you attended the awards last night feel free to leave your comments. To find out how you can be involved next year e-mail: info@learningandperformanceinstitute.com or telephone: +44 (0)845 006 8858.

Attendees are already making their way to The Learning Awards for tonight’s gala ceremony. If you haven’t managed to get a ticket make sure you follow @YourLPI on Twitter or #LearningAwards for all the action as it happens.

Otherwise check back here tomorrow morning for a list of the winners.

At this stage we would like to say a massive thank you to all our sponsors, partners and finalists – here’s to a great evening!

We are delighted to confirm that two time British Sportswoman of the Year, Sharron Davies MBE will be this year’s host for the Learning Awards 2012.

Sharron Davies is Britain’s most successful swimmers ever, winning 2 Gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and Silver at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow.

Twice voted British Press Sportswoman of the Year, Sharron’s incredible international career spanned three decades, included numerous major titles and medals, 200 British records, some of which stand to this day (including the 20- year-old 400 IM record), 5 World Masters records and an MBE awarded by the Queen for services to sport.

In an Olympic year and with learning communities increased focus on performance outcomes Sharon is perfectly placed to host this year’s awards. We look forward to seeing you all on 2nd February!

If you haven’t managed to get a ticket for the awards follow all the action on Twitter using #LearningAwards

The finalists for the Learning Awards 2012 have been announced by The Learning and Performance Institute with a host of leading L&D organisations competing for next year’s awards.

To book your place at February’s gala ceremony please contact Nicki Kettle on +44 (0)845 006 8858.

THE LEARNING AWARDS 2012 – SHORTLIST (note: entries are in aphabetical order)

Internal Training Project Sponsored by Pearson in Practice

• Europcar UK Group
• Hill Dickinson
• Legal & General
• NAPP Pharmaceuticals
• Ricoh Germany
• TNT Express

External Training Project Sponsored by Prodigy Learning              

• Afiniti & Network Rail
• Ashbury Training & Marks & Spencer
• Assima & Molson Coors
• Pink Elephant & CSC
• The Mind Gym & British Gas
• Unicorn Training & Volkswagen Financial Services

Training Department Sponsored by SkillSoft

• Barclaycard
• Boots UK
• Eli Lilly/goFLUENT
• Ernst & Young
• FDM Group
• Hill Dickinson

Training Department (Public Sector) Sponsored by 2e2

• Avon & Somerset Constabulary
• Barnardos
• Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
• Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust
• Warwickshire County Council

Innovation in Learning Services Sponsored by Toolwire

• AXA UK
• DH e-Learning for Healthcare
• G-Cube Webwide Software
• RCL Cruises
• REDTRAY
• Saffron Interactive & Heathrow Express

Trainer of the Year Sponsored by BCS

• Jim Hainie (Afiniti)
• Zelal Baccus Islam (Happy)
• Ian Neil (Zenos)
• Rob Tillier (Accelerate)
• Sheena Whyatt (Lightning Training)

Training Manager Sponsored by REDTRAY

• Lou Mooney (Training Synergy)
• Fleur Newton-Edwards (Legal & General)
• Dena O’Gorman (Guys & St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust)
• Jacquie Rayner (Ministry of Justice)

Instructional Designer

• Laura Hooper (Unicorn Training)
• Jonathan Reeve (Afiniti)
• Vaishali Singh (QA)
• Craig Taylor

Staff Development Programme Sponsored by The Open University

• EMC Computer Systems (UK)
• FDM Group
• Eli Lilly/goFluent
• RBS Global Banking & Markets
• Ricoh Germany
• Wood Mackenzie

Learning Technologies Solution Sponsored by Microsoft Learning

• AXA Anytime
• E2train & Nissan
• Harbinger
• RCL Cruises
• TNT & Assima
• Unicorn Training

Apprenticeship Programme Sponsored by OCR

• Happy Computers
• QA
• Zenos

Social Media for Learning                                                                          

• Happy Computers
• Harbinger
• The Open University

Training Company – Sponsored by Prometric

• Afiniti
• Ashbury Training                                            
• MindLeaders
• Mountainview Learning
• Unicorn Training Group
• Zenos

Live Online Learning Facilitator

• Andy Gilbert (QA)
• Lorna Matty (Crown Agents)
• Michelle O’Neil (Simmons & Simmons)
• Meera Patel (Simmons & Simmons)
• Zeshan Sattar (Zenos)
• Matthew Wade (Guys & St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust)

The winner of the Colin Corder Award for significant and lasting contribution to learning will be announced at the ceremony.

With the deadline for entries passing on Friday (14^th October) the Learning Awards has announced a record year. A 50% increase on entries has set next year’s ceremony up to be the biggest event in the award’s history.

On behalf of everyone connected with the awards we would like to thank everyone for taking the time submit their entries and we’d like to wish those shortlisted the best of luck for the judging process.

We are delighted to announce that Training Zone has become the official media partner for the Learning Awards 2012. Don’t forget to get your entries in before the 14^th October deadline. We look forward to seeing you all in February!

The Learning Awards is now open for awards entries and this year we have simplified the entry process to make it even easier to celebrate your success. The deadline for entries is 14 October 2011. For further information on how to submit your entry visit how to enter.