South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded the prestigious Princess Royal Training Award for its commitment to leadership development and cultural transformation across the organisation.
The award, which recently marked its 10th anniversary, celebrates organisations that demonstrate exceptional dedication to learning and development, delivering measurable benefits to both employees and the business. South Tees Hospitals received the accolade for its inclusive, embedded leadership programme, designed to support staff at all levels.
Launched in 2020, the bespoke leadership programme provides three full days of training that can be completed in any order, allowing staff to fit learning around their shift patterns. The course covers leadership at multiple levels, including self-leadership, team leadership, and leading across systems, helping participants build confidence and drive positive change throughout the trust..
Accepting the award on behalf of the trust were Alison Wilson, leadership development practitioner; Kate Harrison, senior leadership and organisational development consultant; and Praj Basu, strategy project manager.
Alison Wilson said:
“At South Tees we believe in a leader in every seat. Our programme was designed to be accessible and inclusive so all staff, regardless of formal leadership roles, can engage with high-quality leadership training.”
She added that staff feedback has been consistently positive, describing the courses as “engaging, lively and fun,” and noting how participants have applied their learning to inspire innovation and confidence within teams. Many staff have also recommended the programme to colleagues, helping to embed a culture of development across the trust.
“It was an incredible honour to receive this award on behalf of South Tees Hospitals – an experience I will never forget,” Wilson concluded.
