Winnovation Training has been named Training Provider of the Year at the North East 2026 Local Awards, recognising a North East-based training provider that is helping learners, employers and communities build skills, confidence and brighter futures. Founded in 2009, Winnovation Training delivers accredited education and workforce development programmes across Health & Social Care, Residential Childcare and Early Years Education. The organisation supports individuals and employers through funded training, qualifications, apprenticeships and skills programmes designed to improve employability, career progression and workforce capability. For the Winnovation Training team, this award is a proud and meaningful achievement. It reflects the passion, dedication and real-world expertise of a team that brings professional knowledge, lived experience and a family ethos to the work it does every day.

A North East Training Provider Creating Career Opportunities

Winnovation Training is a North East-based training provider supporting people into employment, helping individuals gain qualifications and working with employers to strengthen their workforces. Its programmes are focused on sectors that make a real difference to people’s lives, including Health & Social Care, Residential Childcare and Early Years Education. Training in these sectors matters because the work is deeply human. Care, childcare and early years roles require knowledge, compassion, confidence and practical skill. Winnovation Training understands this and delivers learning that is not only accredited, but relevant to the realities of the workplace. The organisation supports learners at different stages of their professional journey. Some may be unemployed and looking for a route into work. Others may already be employed and ready to progress. Employers may need training that improves workforce capability, raises standards and supports staff development. Winnovation Training helps connect those needs through high-quality, career-focused education that creates real opportunities.

Founded to Empower People Through Learning

Winnovation Training was founded in 2009 with the aim of providing accessible, accredited and career-focused learning opportunities. From the beginning, the organisation’s purpose has been to help individuals build rewarding careers while supporting employers to develop skilled, confident teams. The inspiration behind the business has always been empowerment. Training should open doors. It should help people see new possibilities, build confidence and take meaningful steps forward. For employers, it should strengthen services by helping staff feel more capable, knowledgeable and prepared for the work they do. That founding mission still guides Winnovation Training today. The organisation is proud to support learners and employers across the North East and beyond, offering training that is practical, inclusive and focused on positive outcomes. Winning Training Provider of the Year recognises the lasting value of that work and the difference it continues to make.

Training Delivered by People With Real Industry Experience

What makes Winnovation Training different is that every member of the team comes from a Health & Social Care, Residential Childcare or Early Years background. This means the training is delivered by people who bring both professional expertise and first-hand understanding to the learning experience. That experience matters. Learners and employers benefit from trainers who know what the sectors are really like, not only in theory but in practice. They can speak from lived professional experience, share relevant examples and understand the challenges that staff and learners may face in real workplaces. This gives Winnovation Training a practical edge. The team does not deliver learning from a distance. It brings insight, empathy and genuine sector knowledge into every programme. That makes the training more relatable, more useful and more impactful for the people receiving it.

Proud North East Roots

As a business founded in the North East, Winnovation Training is proud of its roots and committed to supporting communities and workforces across the region and beyond. The organisation understands the importance of creating opportunities for local people and helping employers access skilled, confident staff. Being rooted in the North East gives the business a strong sense of purpose. The region has talented people, committed employers and communities full of potential. Winnovation Training plays a role in connecting that potential with opportunity through skills, qualifications and career development. The organisation is passionate about investing in local communities, supporting people into employment and helping develop a skilled workforce that strengthens the region. This local pride is part of what makes the award so special. Recognition as Training Provider of the Year celebrates not only the training delivered, but the regional impact behind it.

Apprenticeship Success and Outstanding Learner Outcomes

One of Winnovation Training’s biggest achievements has been the success of its apprenticeship programmes. Since 2022, the organisation has supported 186 learners through their apprenticeship journey, achieving exceptional outcomes with 103 passes, 27 merits and an outstanding 56 distinctions. These results reflect the hard work and dedication of learners, as well as the commitment of the Winnovation team to delivering high-quality training, guidance and support. Apprenticeships require persistence, structure and confidence. Learners must balance work, study and assessment while developing skills that can shape their careers. For Winnovation Training, the real achievement is seeing people grow. Behind every pass, merit or distinction is a learner who has developed knowledge, gained confidence and taken a step forward professionally. Knowing that the organisation has helped 186 people progress in their careers and make a positive impact in their workplaces and communities is something the team is incredibly proud of.

Leading the Way With Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training

One of the moments Winnovation Training is particularly proud of is its work delivering the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism. The organisation was the first training provider in the North East to deliver this vital programme, showing its commitment to leading positive change across the health and social care sector. This training is important because it helps professionals develop a deeper understanding of learning disability and autism. It supports safer, more compassionate and more inclusive care by improving communication, reducing health inequalities and ensuring people are treated with dignity and respect. As an approved provider of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training, Winnovation Training has the privilege of supporting professionals to develop the knowledge, confidence and skills needed to provide truly person-centred support. Every session has the potential to make a lasting impact, not only on those attending, but on the individuals and families they go on to support.

The Power of Lived Experience Experts

What makes Winnovation Training’s delivery of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training especially powerful is the involvement of lived experience experts, including Kasie Doherty, Zakk Hudson, Solomon Lonsdale, Kieran Aiston and Elliot Moger. Their insight, knowledge and personal experiences bring authenticity and real-world understanding to every session. Learners do not simply hear about learning disability and autism in abstract terms. They hear directly from people with lived experience, whose voices help make the training meaningful and memorable. This contribution is central to the success of the programme. The lived experience experts help ensure that the training stays true to its purpose and remains grounded in real lives, real challenges and real opportunities for change. For Winnovation Training, their involvement reflects the organisation’s core values: inclusion, respect, understanding and a commitment to improving standards of care.

Helping People Into Employment

Winnovation Training supports the local community by helping unemployed individuals gain new skills, achieve recognised qualifications and access opportunities in growing sectors such as Health & Social Care, Residential Childcare and Early Years. This work can be life-changing. For someone who has been out of work, returning to employment or entering a new sector can feel daunting. Training can help rebuild confidence, create structure and open a path towards a more secure future. Winnovation Training supports people through that journey with care, guidance and practical learning. The organisation is passionate about helping people back into employment, whether they are entering care for the first time or returning to a career they once knew. By improving prospects for individuals and strengthening the local workforce, Winnovation Training contributes to both personal success and wider community resilience.

Investing in Communities Across the Region

Being part of the local area is important to Winnovation Training because the organisation was founded in the North East and remains proud of its regional roots. Its work is closely connected to the communities it serves and the employers it supports. Training providers play an important role in local economic and social development. They help people access careers, support employers with workforce needs and contribute to stronger public services. In sectors such as care, childcare and early years, that impact is especially important because skilled workers directly support children, families and vulnerable people. Winnovation Training believes everyone should have access to opportunities, regardless of background. By helping people gain skills, build confidence and move into meaningful work, the organisation plays a part in creating stronger communities and improved life chances across the North East.

Zakk’s Journey From Learner to Leader

One customer story that powerfully reflects Winnovation Training’s impact is Zakk’s journey from learner to leader. Zakk, a young man with learning difficulties, faced uncertainty and disengagement after leaving college. Like many people in similar circumstances, he struggled to find direction and was economically inactive, but he remained open to new opportunities. His breakthrough came through the Open Doors Beyond Barriers project, where he joined Winnovation’s delivery of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training in Learning Disabilities and Autism Awareness. The programme includes co-delivery by people with lived experience, bringing authenticity and depth to the training. Zakk joined as a participant with the potential to co-deliver. Over the three-day course, he showed exceptional engagement and developed key life and work skills such as independent travel, time management and research. His confidence grew, and his story brought real impact to the sessions. Impressed by his commitment and natural communication skills, Winnovation Training invited him to complete further accredited training.

From Opportunity to Role Model

Zakk went on to achieve a Level 3 Certificate in Supporting and Working with Individuals with Learning Disabilities through a Skills Bootcamp. Today, he is a valued co-trainer, delivering sessions across the North East to professionals and jobseekers. His journey shows the transformative power of inclusive, person-centred opportunities. With the right support, someone who once felt uncertain about their direction has become a role model for others. Zakk now uses his experience to educate professionals, support understanding and help improve services for people with learning disabilities and autistic people. For Winnovation Training, stories like Zakk’s are exactly why the work matters. Training is not only about qualifications. It is about recognising potential, building confidence and creating pathways that allow people to contribute meaningfully. Zakk’s journey is a powerful example of how learners can become leaders when they are supported properly.

Delighted and Honoured to Win

When Winnovation Training found out it had won Training Provider of the Year, the team was absolutely delighted and honoured. As an organisation passionate about supporting learners, employers and communities across the North East and beyond, it was incredibly rewarding to see that work recognised. The award is a testament to the commitment of the staff, who bring industry experience and lived experience to everything they do. Their dedication helps make the training practical, personal and impactful for learners and employers alike. For the team, the win was more than a moment of celebration. It was recognition of years of effort, care and belief in the power of training to change lives. It confirmed that Winnovation Training’s approach is making a positive difference and gave the team even more motivation to keep building on its success.

What Winning Training Provider of the Year Means

Winning this award means a great deal to the entire Winnovation Training team. It recognises the passion, hard work and dedication that goes into supporting learners, employers and communities every day. The award validates the organisation’s commitment to delivering high-quality training led by people with real industry and lived experience. This approach helps make learning relevant and meaningful, because it is grounded in the realities of the sectors Winnovation serves. As a proud North East organisation, being recognised for the positive impact made in helping people develop skills, gain employment and build rewarding careers is especially meaningful. The award belongs to the whole team and to the learners, employers and partners whose trust and achievements inspire the organisation every day.

Recognition Built on Trust and Personal Support

This recognition means so much to Winnovation Training because it reflects the trust and support of learners, employers and partners. The organisation has built its reputation on delivering high-quality training with a personal approach, drawing on the real-life experience and industry backgrounds of the team. Winnovation Training takes time to understand individual needs and challenges. This matters because every learner and employer is different. Some learners need confidence as much as qualification support. Some employers need practical solutions that fit the demands of their workforce. By building genuine relationships, the organisation can deliver training that feels relevant, supportive and useful. Winning this award reassures the team that its commitment is being recognised and appreciated. It shows that learners, employers and partners value the care, professionalism and personal support they receive.

Tackling Childhood Poverty and Supporting Families

Looking ahead, one area Winnovation Training is particularly passionate about is tackling childhood poverty and supporting families across the North East. The organisation is welcoming the opportunity to work alongside Kim McGuinness and other partners to explore how skills, training and employment opportunities can help break cycles of disadvantage. This future focus reflects Winnovation Training’s belief that access to opportunity can change lives. Employment and skills development can help families build stability, improve prospects and create brighter futures for children. Training can be one piece of a much wider solution, supporting people to gain confidence, find work and progress. As a proud North East organisation, Winnovation Training believes everyone should have access to opportunities regardless of background. The team is committed to playing its part in building stronger communities and improving life chances across the region.

Thanking the Winnovation Training Team

Winnovation Training would like to thank its incredible team: Pete Tighe, Billy Doherty, Kaye Kinsella, Michael Atkinson, Claire Doherty, Laura Appleby, Marie Harrison, Wendy Taylor, Paula Sowden, Andrea Mather, Leanne Proud, Beverley Chrisp, Cheryl Dobie, Gemma MacLean, Joe Poritt, Julie Younger, Kasie Doherty, Kath Dickison, Kaye Lant, Lindsay Coleman, Lisa Pringle, Lois Kelly, Kim Simpson, Lytreena Duncan, Mike Linsley, Peter Harrison, Samantha Johns, Bill Doherty, Hollie Appleby and everyone who plays a part in making Winnovation Training what it is today. As a small business with a family ethos, every member of the team makes a difference. What makes Winnovation special is that the team is not just made up of colleagues. It is a close-knit group of people who genuinely care about the learners, employers and communities they support, and about each other. The friendly, approachable culture is at the heart of everything Winnovation Training does. This award reflects the passion, dedication and hard work that every individual brings to the business.

Thanking Learners, Employers, Partners and Communities

Winnovation Training would also like to thank its learners, employers, partners and local communities for placing their trust in the organisation over the years. Their support and success inspire the team every day. Every learner who gains confidence, every employer who strengthens their workforce and every partner who works alongside Winnovation Training contributes to the organisation’s story. This achievement belongs to them just as much as it does to the team. As Training Provider of the Year, Winnovation Training is proud to continue supporting people across the North East and beyond. Through accredited learning, apprenticeships, skills programmes and person-centred support, the organisation remains committed to helping people build careers, strengthen communities and create brighter futures.