News: Judges at the 2017 Learning Awards looking for outstanding examples of best practice, innovation and excellence in Learning and Development have shortlisted Sponge three times.

Sponge, a supplier of custom learning solutions, is a finalist with Royal Mail in the Learning Technologies category and with Specsavers in the Onboarding Programme of the Year category.

The company’s Head of Learning Innovation, Kate Nicholls is also a finalist for Learning Professional of the Year.

The Learning Awards, organised by the Learning and Performance Institute, are among the top accolades in the Learning and Development sector.

Liam O’Meara, Head of Sales and Marketing at Sponge said:

“The Learning Awards celebrate all that’s good about L&D and the difference it can make to businesses. We’re delighted to be recognised along with our clients for learning technologies and programmes that are delivering fantastic results through innovation and creativity.”

Royal Mail and Sponge are shortlisted for an interactive video project, which is helping frontline managers learn new techniques for dealing with difficult conversations at work.

Judges picked out the project as a finalist in the Learning Technologies category, which recognises high quality outcomes and innovation.

A global online induction programme for 5,000 new starters at Specsavers has gained a finalist place for the international optical and hearing business along with Sponge.

Sponge was the gold winner with Farmfoods in the same category at the 2016 Learning Awards.

Kate Nicholls, Sponge’s Head of Learning Innovation is one of six people shortlisted for Learning Professional of Year 2017.

The Learning Awards winners are announced at a ceremony on Thursday, February 2 at the Dorchester Hotel in London's Park Lane.