The Donkey Sanctuary has been commended by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal for its inspirational commitment to the learning and development of its staff.
This is the second time the charity has received royal recognition for its work.
It was among 48 UK organisations and businesses commended at the 2018 Princess Royal Training Awards.
The Sidmouth-based charity will receive the award from Princess Anne at a ceremony at St James’s Palace on Wednesday, October 31.
The Donkey Sanctuary has initiated a strengths-based development strategy and uses a talent map and skills analysis to pinpoint individual learning needs to develop its staff.
This resulted in a significant increase in internal promotions in 2017.
Steven James, learning and development manager at The Donkey Sanctuary, said: “We are delighted to receive the award for a second time. It demonstrates our commitment to providing development for our staff and reinforces our credentials as an employer of choice.”
The Donkey Sanctuary employs more than 600 members of staff in the UK, with 523 based in the South West. Roles range from grooms to vets, scientists to researchers, chefs to fundraisers and electricians to fabricators.
The charity also funds more than 220 roles internationally, in countries such as; Ethiopia, Mexico, India and Kenya.
The Princess Royal Training Awards, delivered by the City and Guilds Group, are now in their third year. A total of 90 applications were assessed against three Hallmarks of Excellence by the Princess Royal Training Awards Commission, which comprised of Princess Anne and seven leading figures in the business and training community.
Chris Jones, chief executive of the City and Guilds Group said: “Congratulations to all 48 organisations who have achieved the Princess Royal Training Awards standard of excellence this year.
“At a time of increasing economic uncertainty and reduced investment into workforce development, it is great to see critical business issues being addressed through impactful learning and development.”
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