The Chamber of Commerce Training prize recognises companies and individuals who have achieved extraordinary goals through 'diligence and endeavour during training'. There is little doubt that considerable diligence and endeavour was needed as (the judges observed) the circumstances and a catalogue of adversities set the scene for failure. Against this backdrop we excelled; an astonishing achievement for a business whose turnover is less that the training budget of some unsuccessful award entrants.

Sarah, a 'work returner', worked as an associate to develop the sales and marketing function including customer relationship management but most importantly, her objectives centred on ensuring that the consultants are out of the office and at clients. She had all the right personality attributes, a difficult schedule of family responsibilities (which mother hasn't?), highly relevant skills, and a desire to take on more technical work.

As a company Azteck worked closely with her: to shape a role, to imaginatively adjust the working conditions, to design and then undertake a job-focussed training programme. This collaborative approach lead to a role to suit her family responsibilities while growing her skill set.

The judging panel commended the steps we (Azteck and Sarah) had taken to provide development opportunities and to shape a role to most benefit a 'work returner'.

We are especially proud that the award recognises how a company and an individual should work together, equally seeking to meet their objectives, while realising that their objectives will be met if the other's are met.

Read about Sarah and the Training Award, ( article ).

The full title of the prize is: 'The Gloucestershire Chamber of Commerce (Industrial section), Training Prize'.