Staffordshire Training Services wins LCL Awards Inclusivity trophy for 2026
30 Jul 2026
Pictured left to right: Matthew Ramsell, Director, Staffordshire Training Services; Hattie Hasan MBE, LCL Awards judge; Gareth Hassall, Director, Training Solutions.
We had a strong field of entries for the Inclusivity category at our Awards celebration on 25th June in Birmingham. The winners, Staffordshire Training Services Ltd (STS) were joined on the shortlist by GTEC Training, Hampshire Training and Assessments and Innovo Training Academy CIC.
Hattie Hasan MBE, who helped us develop our Inclusivity Charter, and was one of our judges, was at the event to present the award in person. She said:
“I was impressed by STS’s understanding of Inclusivity and Diversity. They demonstrated a wide understanding of the many differing needs of learners and had solutions to cater for everyone, identifying the requirements for specific groups and acting upon them.”
We caught up with Gareth Hassall of STS to find out what makes the centre excel in this area – and what winning the award means to him and his staff. He explains:
“We take a combined approach to inclusivity at STS. Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) are embedded throughout the learner journey and staff experience to ensure that everyone feels valued, supported, and able to reach their full potential regardless of background, age, gender, ethnicity, disability, religion and sexual orientation.
“We operate a range of robust EDI policies across the board, and all staff undertake mandatory Safeguarding, Prevent, British Values & Equality training to ensure inclusive practices are consistently applied across teaching, assessment, recruitment, and day to day interactions with our candidates.
Listening to learners
“Learners are encouraged to express their views openly through feedback systems, learner voice activities, surveys, and regular progress reviews. Any concerns relating to discrimination, harassment, or unfair treatment are taken seriously and addressed quickly through established reporting procedures.
“We recognise that learners come from a wide variety of educational and personal backgrounds, and that their reasons for seeking training are just as varied. We cater for learners renewing qualifications, career changers, apprentices, unemployed learners, and individuals entering the trades from traditionally underrepresented groups. Training delivery is designed to be flexible and supportive, with staff adapting teaching methods and resources to meet differing learning styles, abilities, and additional learning needs.
Inclusive teaching styles
“We actively support neurodivergent learners, including individuals with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or processing difficulties. Tutors adapt teaching styles to suit different learning preferences by combining visual, practical, verbal, and hands-on learning methods. Clear instructions, structured lesson delivery, smaller step-by-step tasks, and additional one-to-one support are used where required to help learners build confidence and remain engaged throughout their training.
Encouraging diversity
“Aware that building services is a field largely populated and run by men, we work hard to include and encourage women into the sector. A recent strategy to encourage this was our Women only F-Gas Skills Bootcamp Programme, specifically designed to encourage more women into the refrigeration and green skills sector. The boot camp provides women with a supportive and inclusive learning environment in order to build confidence, technical skills, and long-term career opportunities.
“As well as this we support career changers in becoming qualified plumbers, working for example, with those seeking to leave the Armed Forces via the ELCAS resettlement scheme. We work closely with our local Job Centre case workers to motivate and train unemployed adults – helping them access Adult Skills Funding. We offer support for younger learners too, through our apprenticeships. In order to promote all of this, we create inclusive marketing campaigns, and foster community engagement; networking and attending regional careers events.
Partnering with the sector
“We recognise the importance of building strong employer partnerships. By working collaboratively with employers, schools, local communities, funding partners, and regional provider networks, STS actively contributes to creating a more inclusive training sector and workforce. Through these partnerships, STS helps employers recognise the value of building a more diverse workforce and supports them in addressing industry-wide skills shortages in an inclusive and sustainable way.
“STS is a member of the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce and participates in the Staffordshire Provider Network, where local colleges and independent training providers meet regularly to share best practice, discuss learner support strategies, and collaborate on improving education and skills delivery. These partnerships support continuous improvement in inclusive practice, learner engagement, safeguarding, and widening participation initiatives.
Staff wellbeing
“As well as doing all we can to be welcoming and outward-facing, we engender a caring environment within the centre for our own staff. Staff wellbeing is prioritised through open communication, supportive management practices, and opportunities for professional development. The company encourages collaborative working, values individual perspectives, and promotes a positive team culture where all staff contributions are respected.
“We are thrilled to have won LCL Awards’ Inclusivity Award this year. It’s given us a real boost and will help build our reputation amongst our peers and the manufacturers we’d like to work with in the future. This recognition of the service and care we give to our learners will, I hope, open more doors to us, and offer us the potential to develop further training opportunities – and ultimately grow the business.”
Find out more about Staffordshire Training Services, here: www.staffstraining.co.uk
Find out more about our annual Award ceremony: LCL Awards – ‘The Awards’
Pictured left to right: Matthew Ramsell, Director, Staffordshire Training Services; Hattie Hasan MBE, LCL Awards judge; Gareth Hassall, Director, Training Solutions.
We had a strong field of entries for the Inclusivity category at our Awards celebration on 25th June in Birmingham. The winners, Staffordshire Training Services Ltd (STS) were joined on the shortlist by GTEC Training, Hampshire Training and Assessments and Innovo Training Academy CIC.
Hattie Hasan MBE, who helped us develop our Inclusivity Charter, and was one of our judges, was at the event to present the award in person. She said:
“I was impressed by STS’s understanding of Inclusivity and Diversity. They demonstrated a wide understanding of the many differing needs of learners and had solutions to cater for everyone, identifying the requirements for specific groups and acting upon them.”
We caught up with Gareth Hassall of STS to find out what makes the centre excel in this area – and what winning the award means to him and his staff. He explains:
“We take a combined approach to inclusivity at STS. Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) are embedded throughout the learner journey and staff experience to ensure that everyone feels valued, supported, and able to reach their full potential regardless of background, age, gender, ethnicity, disability, religion and sexual orientation.
“We operate a range of robust EDI policies across the board, and all staff undertake mandatory Safeguarding, Prevent, British Values & Equality training to ensure inclusive practices are consistently applied across teaching, assessment, recruitment, and day to day interactions with our candidates.
Listening to learners
“Learners are encouraged to express their views openly through feedback systems, learner voice activities, surveys, and regular progress reviews. Any concerns relating to discrimination, harassment, or unfair treatment are taken seriously and addressed quickly through established reporting procedures.
“We recognise that learners come from a wide variety of educational and personal backgrounds, and that their reasons for seeking training are just as varied. We cater for learners renewing qualifications, career changers, apprentices, unemployed learners, and individuals entering the trades from traditionally underrepresented groups. Training delivery is designed to be flexible and supportive, with staff adapting teaching methods and resources to meet differing learning styles, abilities, and additional learning needs.
Inclusive teaching styles
“We actively support neurodivergent learners, including individuals with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or processing difficulties. Tutors adapt teaching styles to suit different learning preferences by combining visual, practical, verbal, and hands-on learning methods. Clear instructions, structured lesson delivery, smaller step-by-step tasks, and additional one-to-one support are used where required to help learners build confidence and remain engaged throughout their training.
Encouraging diversity
“Aware that building services is a field largely populated and run by men, we work hard to include and encourage women into the sector. A recent strategy to encourage this was our Women only F-Gas Skills Bootcamp Programme, specifically designed to encourage more women into the refrigeration and green skills sector. The boot camp provides women with a supportive and inclusive learning environment in order to build confidence, technical skills, and long-term career opportunities.
“As well as this we support career changers in becoming qualified plumbers, working for example, with those seeking to leave the Armed Forces via the ELCAS resettlement scheme. We work closely with our local Job Centre case workers to motivate and train unemployed adults – helping them access Adult Skills Funding. We offer support for younger learners too, through our apprenticeships. In order to promote all of this, we create inclusive marketing campaigns, and foster community engagement; networking and attending regional careers events.
Partnering with the sector
“We recognise the importance of building strong employer partnerships. By working collaboratively with employers, schools, local communities, funding partners, and regional provider networks, STS actively contributes to creating a more inclusive training sector and workforce. Through these partnerships, STS helps employers recognise the value of building a more diverse workforce and supports them in addressing industry-wide skills shortages in an inclusive and sustainable way.
“STS is a member of the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce and participates in the Staffordshire Provider Network, where local colleges and independent training providers meet regularly to share best practice, discuss learner support strategies, and collaborate on improving education and skills delivery. These partnerships support continuous improvement in inclusive practice, learner engagement, safeguarding, and widening participation initiatives.
Staff wellbeing
“As well as doing all we can to be welcoming and outward-facing, we engender a caring environment within the centre for our own staff. Staff wellbeing is prioritised through open communication, supportive management practices, and opportunities for professional development. The company encourages collaborative working, values individual perspectives, and promotes a positive team culture where all staff contributions are respected.
“We are thrilled to have won LCL Awards’ Inclusivity Award this year. It’s given us a real boost and will help build our reputation amongst our peers and the manufacturers we’d like to work with in the future. This recognition of the service and care we give to our learners will, I hope, open more doors to us, and offer us the potential to develop further training opportunities – and ultimately grow the business.”
Find out more about Staffordshire Training Services, here: www.staffstraining.co.uk
Find out more about our annual Award ceremony: LCL Awards – ‘The Awards’