Thatcham Xtrac wins Princess Royal Training Award for third time

The Thatcham-based company has won its third Princess Royal Training Award.

Xtrac, which supplies specialist transmission technology for the highest level of motorsport, is the only company in the automotive and motorsport industry to receive the accolade for practical training for a third time.

Xtrac students Aimee Keen and Beau Weedon demonstrate to student manager Warren Page (left) and general manager Adrian Moore their ability to machine an adjustable V-block nut on an Okuma LB300 CNC lathe as part of their training

The Princess Royal Training Awards, now in their ninth year, were established by City & Guilds to recognise outstanding training and skills development programmes.

“We are delighted to receive this accolade again as it recognises our long-term investment in developing the skills of all our multi-skilled employees,” said Xtrac CEO Adrian Moore, who began his career as a Rolls-Royce-sponsored student.

With more than 30 per cent of Xtrac’s workforce under the age of 30, continued investment is key to the company’s continued growth, as Mr Moore explains: “The hard work we put into our training programmes ensures that our future workforce is skilled, which will benefit all our stakeholders, including our customers, employees, investors and suppliers.”

Adrian Moore and Xtrac Apprenticeship Manager Warren Page introduce former apprentices Martin Carrick, Jason Woodley and Stephen Gomm to The Princess Royal during her visit in 2022.

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal will present the award to 52 laureates at a ceremony in November.

The awards are open to all private, public and not-for-profit organisations in the UK and Ireland, regardless of size or sector, that can demonstrate how their investment in learning and development initiatives has had a positive impact on their organisation and its people.

Xtrac has previously been recognised in 2018 and 2021 for its apprenticeship programme.

The Princess Royal and Kirstie Donnelly, group chief executive of the City and Guilds of London Institute, discuss 'Women in Engineering' with Xtrac apprentice Faye Cooke, centre, and engineers Jessica Matthews, left, and Katie Parton during their visit in 2022. — The Princess Royal and Kirstie Donnelly, group chief executive of the City and Guilds of London Institute, discuss ‘Women in Engineering’ with Xtrac apprentice Faye Cooke, centre, and engineers Jessica Matthews, left, and Katie Parton during their visit in 2022.

Since then, the company has opened its own in-house training academy and expanded its mentoring network, resulting in a visit from Princess Anne to Xtrac’s global headquarters in Thatcham in 2022.

City & Guilds of London Institute Chair Dame Ann Limb and Chief Executive Kirstie Donnelly accompanied Her Royal Highness, who is President of the City and Guilds of London Institute.

Xtrac introduced its apprenticeship program in 1991.

Since 2003, the institution has been collaborating with Newbury College and, since 2020, with the University Centre Newbury, offering apprenticeship programs in advanced manufacturing.