EXCELLENCE IN LEARNING AWARDS 2025
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Judges’ Comments Across a diverse range of organisations, entries showcased how carefully designed Coaching & Mentoring programmes, backed by strong leadership commitment, are delivering meaningful outcomes for both individuals and the wider business. The dedication, passion, and rigour evident in the research, design, and evaluation of these initiatives underscored the powerful role coaching and mentoring plays in unlocking potential, closing development gaps, and supporting succession planning. Several strong themes emerged from the process reflecting the success factors across the category. The continued relevance of coaching and mentoring was clear, with organisations using it as a strategic lever for growth. Leadership endorsement, particularly from CEOs and senior management, was consistently identified as a critical success factor, helping embed initiatives into organisational culture. Many submissions adopted a strategic, tailored approach, ensuring programmes addressed specific needs and contexts. There was also a notable focus on “quality over speed,” with organisations taking time to establish firm foundations before scaling. Generational influences were shaping modern mentoring methods, while both national and in-house research informed programme design. Protected time for mentoring was a common feature, ensuring meaningful mentor:mentee engagement, and technology-driven solutions were enabling delivery in complex or dispersed environments.
Feedback and evaluation was widely used, not as a box-ticking exercise, but as a means to continuously refine and improve programme design and impact. Many entries were particularly compelling in the way they brought their initiatives to life through real-life stories, illustrating both the challenges faced and the transformative benefits achieved. Collectively, these submissions demonstrated that when thoughtfully designed, strategically aligned, and fully supported by leadership, coaching and mentoring can be a powerful driver of personal growth and organisational success.
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