Mercedes-Benz Trucks has been commended for its commitment to training and skills development by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, at a ceremony at St James’s Palace in London.

The Milton Keynes-based business was one of 34 organisations honoured with a Princess Royal Training Award for creating lasting impact by successfully linking their skills development needs to business performance.

The winners, including prestige car manufacturers, healthcare organisations and charities, all demonstrated that training can make a significant contribution to productivity and business success.

The judges were particularly impressed by Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ initiative to recruit a new sales force, to address a skills gap caused by the increasing age of its truck sales network. The company’s 26-week training programme – which includes teaching trainees to drive a truck – has doubled its number of female trainees and achieved a 78% retention rate since 2011.

Vincente Connolly, UK director of national sales at Mercedes-Benz and FUSO Trucks, said: “I am delighted that our dedication to training and development has been recognised in this way. At Mercedes-Benz Trucks we place a premium on ensuring that our employees have the chance to learn and grow in their roles. We understand that this is not only good for them, but is also vital to the success of the business.”

The Princess Royal Training Awards are new honours presented by the City & Guilds Group to employers in the UK who have created outstanding training and skills development, resulting in exceptional commercial benefit.