HC-One has been shortlisted for the Collaborative Purpose (Partnership of the Year) award at the Lifetime Learning Awards 2026, recognising our long-standing and successful partnership with Lifetime Training.
Proudly partnered with Lifetime Training for over a decade, the relationship has evolved into a strategic alliance that has grown stronger year on year.
Since 2017, HC-One has invested £9 million of apprenticeship levy funding into producing the next generation of kind and caring professionals, with over 4,800 colleagues developing their skills through apprenticeships, including more than 300 progressing to Level 5 programmes, reinforcing HC-One’s commitment to nurturing future leaders and providing meaningful growth opportunities.
Working in close collaboration, HC-One and Lifetime have built apprenticeship programmes that deliver high-quality learning while being shaped around the real-world needs of our homes, our colleagues and the people we care for. The partnership supports apprentices across clinical, care, leadership, professional support and hospitality roles, with expert Learning Coaches who understand the demands of frontline social care and provide personalised, motivating support throughout the learning journey.
The partnership has focused on unlocking potential within HC-One’s workforce and empowering progression, whilst ensuring colleagues receive the best learning experience and striving for high achievement rates.
HC-One’s commitment to apprenticeships has also been nationally recognised, with the organisation featuring in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list on three occasions between 2022 and 2025.
Susan Beasley, Qualifications & Apprenticeship Manager at HC-One, said:
“Our partnership with Lifetime Training is built on shared values and a genuine commitment to supporting our colleagues to grow, develop and succeed. Being shortlisted for this award is fantastic recognition of the impact our apprenticeships are having across HC-One, and of the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in making the programmes a success.”
Dan Howard, Lifetime Training’s Partnership Development Director, commented:
“This recognition is thoroughly deserved by HC-One. Their long-term commitment to investing in people, creating clear progression routes and embedding high-quality apprenticeships across the organisation truly sets them apart in the social care sector. We’re proud to support HC-One in delivering programmes that develop confident, capable colleagues and future leaders, and we’re delighted to see their impact acknowledged at our National Learning Awards.”
HC-One is also proud to share that Charlotte Heathcote, Home Manager at Guide Lane, has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Inspirational Individual category, recognising her outstanding commitment and leadership.
Winners will be announced at the Lifetime Learning Awards Gala on Thursday 5 February 2026 at Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham.