Northern Ireland's 'training elite' has been urged to submit their entries for this year's National Training Awards (NTA).

The Department for Employment and Learning has called for entries to the 2011 National Training Awards from larger Investors in People accredited organisations that have delivered outstanding training programmes and organisations with 20 or less employees who are not required to be Investors in People accredited to enter the Awards.

The Awards celebrate and showcase entrants that can demonstrate organisational benefits gained by directly linking the training needs of their people to the business needs of their organisation.

Commenting on the Awards, Nuala Kerr, Head of the Department for Employment and Learning's Skills & Industry Division said: "It is more important than ever that business invests in high quality training that helps individuals develop fulfilling careers, drives competitiveness and fuels economic growth.

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"Entering the National Training Awards is a real opportunity for employers to gain the recognition they richly deserve for building the skills base."

Free to enter and covering four categories, the Awards encompass employers of all sizes and from across all sectors.

There's a comprehensive judging process, which closely relates to Investors in People criteria, all entrants to the Awards are provided with detailed evaluation reports, which can be used to inform existing and future organisational development through staff training.

The Awards provide entrants with an opportunity to continually build on their accredited Investors in People status by gaining public recognition for achieving success by developing their people year on year.

After a selection and judging process, short-listed finalists will be acknowledged regionally and invited to participate in celebrating their success on a global stage at the world's largest international skills competition, WorldSkills London 2011.

This unique event will enable NTA Winners to demonstrate their commitment to developing skills and raising standards in workplace learning on an international platform.

The closing date for this year's Awards is Friday 27 May at 5pm. See: www.ukskills.org.uk

(BMcC/GK)