A specialist data and AI education company has been named training provider of the year at the 2026 Apprenticeships and Training Awards.
Cambridge Spark were named winners of the accolade at a glitzy awards ceremony in Liverpool last night hosted by comedian Sara Pascoe.
They are among 19 winners of this year’s awards, run jointly between FE Week and the Association of Employment and Learning Providers and delivered in association with City & Guilds.
Over 650 nominations were assessed by an independent panel of judges, who set out to find the country’s most innovative and effective training, projects, providers and employers.
The awards recognised SME and large employers, outstanding apprenticeship programmes, best use of technology and employer support for social mobility.
Alongside Cambridge Spark, CSR Scientific was named specialist training provider of the year and Myerscough College took home the prize for outstanding apprenticeship programme.
Shane Mann, chair of ATA judging panel and chief executive of FE Week’s publisher EducationScape, said: “These awards celebrate the very best in apprenticeships, training and workforce development. We had a record-breaking number of entries and every year the sector raises the bar in quality, ambition and innovation.
“Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to our team of amazing judges, sponsors and partners. We couldn’t have done it without them.”
Several big name employers were named best-in-class in their categories.
Muller UK and Ireland were named large employer of the year and a partnership between McDonalds and Lifetime Training won best partnership in training.
Meanwhile, pub chain Greene King took home two awards: innovation in training delivery and employer support for social mobility.
This year’s apprenticeship provider of the year was Bradford College and Kaplan won the award for excellence in learner support.
The winners were announced at the annual apprenticeships and training conference (ATC) gala dinner this evening at Exhibition Centre Liverpool.
It follows a parliamentary reception earlier last month, during National Apprenticeships Week, where all finalists were honoured at a reception in the House of Lords, hosted by former education secretary Baroness Nicky Morgan.
The winners in full are listed below:
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