The physical activity sector’s leading training providers gathered in Marlow last week to celebrate 2014’s top achievers at the Active Training Awards.

More than 150 of the industry’s top training companies, employers, higher education providers and commercial vocational providers were on hand to hail exceptional performance and commitment to vocational training and development.

There was a rigorous three stage assessment process for the awards, initially comprising a submission and then feedback stage from employers and learners. The final stage included a presentation to a panel of experts made up of: Tara Dillon and Rebecca Ward of CIMSPA, Leanna Jones of Sport England, Iain Bogie of McDonalds, James Emmett from Pearson, Dr Chris Beedie from the ukactive Research Institute, Professor Gavin Sandercock of the University of Essex, Tony Majakis of Fit Quest, Stuart Wilson, formerly of Skills Active, Fred Grindrod from the Education & Training Foundation, Ailin O’Cathain from the Federation of Awarding Organisations, skills and sport consultant Steve Mitchell and Rhys Thomas of BIZ Network.

"Training and development is rapidly changing to meet demands to today’s workforce,” said ukactive CEO and CIMSPA chair David Stalker.

“We’ve focused this year on driving a discernible shift in training standards and it’s great to be able to recognise top players across the breadth of the industry as they continue to deliver the best-in-class vocational training that is the bedrock of our sector."

Full List of Winners:

- Innovative Training Programme of the Year – Future Fit Training

- Innovative Concept of the Year – Swimming Nature- Large Training Provider of the Year – ICON TRAINING

- Small Training Provider of the Year – Piloxing- Employer of the Year – GLL

- Special Populations Training Programme of the Year – Aspire / InstructAbility- Supplier Learning & Development Provider of the Year – Schwinn Cycling

- Apprenticeships & Traineeships Provider of the Year – Lifetime Training- Most Inspiring Physical Activity Professional - Gary Paish, Everyone Active