A CHIPPENHAM accountancy firm are celebrating after being commended for their commitment to training and skills development, by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal at a ceremony at St James's Palace in London on Thursday, November 2.

Mander Duffill was the only accountancy firm in the country to be awarded the Princess Royal Training Award.

They received the prestigious award for demonstrating their ability to create a lasting impact by successfully linking their skills development needs to their business models.

Managing partner of Mander Duffill, Julian Duffill, said: "We are immensely proud that our apprentices and the development we offer at Mander Duffill has been recognised by this prestigious award.

"Our people, their training and development are incredibly important to us and key to the success of our business.

"We are delighted that this has been acknowledged by the City and Guilds Group and the Princess Royal Training Award."

The award recognises the development of a successful apprenticeship scheme which transforms school leavers into confident accountants.

By offering these apprenticeships, Mander Duffill have demonstrated that training can have a significant impact on productivity and business success.

The Princess Royal Training Awards are delivered by the City and Guilds group to highlight the value of training and employee development, and celebrate examples of best practice.

Former apprentice and now assistant client manager at Mander Duffill, Olivia Adlam, said: "It was a great honour to be involved in the process of our firm achieving this award and to be invited to St James' Palace for the awards ceremony.

"It's been fantastic to see the firm recognised for its training and development of staff and I am very grateful that I was able to represent past and present apprentices."

Chief executive of the City and Guilds Group, Christ Jones, Said: "It's fantastic to celebrate the second annual Princess Royal Training Awards and honour Barclays Bank, RBS, Coventry Building Society and Mander Duffill in the financial sector.

"I congratulate all the successful organisations who presented examples of the innovative, inspiring and impactful training that's taking place across the UK today.

"They are truly worthy recipients of this rigorously assessed royal award and we are delighted to be able to honour their achievements through the Princess Royal Training Awards."