At our Alumni event in Manchester we caught up with Aaron Saxton, Director of Education at UKFast, to talk about the organisation’s Community and Education Trust which has committed £5 million to provide more opportunities to young people in the community.

It’s clear that UKFast is committed to delivering impact – you achieved a Princess Royal Training Award by evidencing just that – what impact do you want this £5m commitment to make?

As a team, we want to continue to work to inspire those most in need of a little support to be the best they can be. That’s one of the fundamental objectives of the Community and Education Trust – to contribute to the education and development of young people and the wider community.

The impact we’d love to see is a reduction of the poverty gap through the development of digital skills. To achieve that, we focus on understanding young people and communities who face scenarios of abuse, neglect and different forms of hardship.

UKFast's Aaron Saxton with school children using Rasberry Pi's

As with many cities today, wealth and poverty sit side by side – discovering that children in your local school couldn’t afford even 20p must have been a real shock – how did it make you feel?

I don’t believe that money brings happiness or is the solution to all of the world’s problems. I’m a passionate believer that giving time and resources is one of the most powerful things we can do to help people and communities be better. We want to give people the skills, tools and access to better opportunities.

You are working to make a real difference to those local children – is there anything that can be done for their parents?

We’re moving in that direction and we are already working with schools, parents and teachers. We want to create a sustainable model where all stakeholders are inspired to be better and become role models for future generations, especially in the digital space.

We’re looking to make a systemic change in society, so we’re doing a lot with clients and the general public through events such as open tech community workshops for budding entrepreneurs.

HRH The Princess Royal meeting UKFast directors

Last month you received a royal visit. Has the association with The Princess Royal made a difference to UKFast and to your impact on the community?

100%. It’s put us in the spotlight, which is nice! People always recognise the great work that we do with our apprentices and educational partners. The Awards have helped us as a team to articulate how and why we’re looking to make a difference on a much larger scale. We’ve been able to talk about this wider impact in the press, internally, throughout the community and our network of schools.

So the Awards enhanced engagement with the work of the Trust internally and externally?

Without a doubt. The Awards enhanced the profile of the Community and Education Trust. The Trust has always existed in the background, as a tool and platform to create a positive impact and deliver our community and education work.

The Princess Royal Training Awards helped us enhance and strengthen our purpose within the educational space, and were the reason for freeing up additional planning and investment to help us have an even greater and wider impact.

School children at UKFast using computers

When you stand back and look at the impact you have had on your business and the local community, what do you consider is your proudest achievement?

Apart from the Princess Royal Training Awards?! It has to be the four apprentices who joined UKFast with me six years ago. I used to be a teacher and they followed me across when I made a career move to UKFast. They’re all still here, at the top of their game and running their own individual teams and departments, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps. I feel like a proud father to all four boys!


UKFast received a Princess Royal Training award for their Apprenticeship scheme in 2018. They hosted an alumni event in May 2019 and The Princess Royal visited their campus in Manchester to learn more about their award-winning initiatives firsthand.

Other news stories

HRH The Princess Royal visits Xtrac Academy

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal’s visit to meet recipients of her eponymous Princess Royal Training Award, assessed by City & Guilds she serves as president, was accommodated by the motorsport & automotive transmission technology specialist Xtrac at its...

In the press: Eddisbury MP commends Malpas business award win

A MALPAS based business has been praised by the MP for Eddisbury after winning a Princess Royal Training Award. Antoinette Sandbach MP is celebrating Barlows winning the award, after the business was recognised for creating a lasting impact by successfully linking...

It’s time to give learning and development the royal recognition it deserves

It’s common knowledge that business conditions in the UK today are far from optimal. Employers are faced with economic uncertainty, widening skills gaps and lagging productivity. And what’s more problematic is that these aren’t simple issues to fix – there’s no...

In the press: Veolia Gains Royal Recognition For ‘Respect At Work’ Training

​Veolia has been recognised for outstanding commitment to workplace training by gaining a Princess Royal Training Award (PRTA) for its recent initiative: Respect at Work. The awards were presented by HRH Princess Anne, at a ceremony held at St James’s Palace in London...

Princess Royal Training Awards now open for entries

The Princess Royal Training Awards – designed to honour outstanding and innovative training and skills development programmes from UK employers – are now open for applications, until 29th March 2019. Created by the City & Guilds Group, which is celebrating its...

Demonstrating the impact of outstanding training with The Princess Royal Training Awards class of 2022

It’s not often you can bring a range of employers together in a room from large multinational banks to small charities devoted to the welfare of donkeys; this is what makes The Princess Royal Training Awards so unique. Now in its seventh year, The Princess Royal...

In the press: Snow-Camp Charity awarded Princess Royal Training Award

HRH Princess Anne, who is the president of the global skills development body announced the winners on her birthday on 15 August 2019. Snow-Camp, the UK’s only registered charity turning young lives around through snowsports, has been awarded a Princess Royal...

Next Alumni meet-up: Manchester Wednesday 1 May 2019

Everybody agrees that employee experience is crucial to business success ― and yet not many organisations are actively addressing this need. How can employee training and development hep you improve employee experience and enhance the performance of your organisation?...

In the press: ISO Quality Services wins royal award

A Worcester-based training firm has been recognised by Princess Anne for its commitment to developing skills. ISO Quality Services was named among 48 other organisations, including household names such as John Lewis, Legal and General and Specsavers for demonstrating...

In the press: Mitchells & Butlers’ kitchen programme gains royal seal of approval

Mitchells & Butlers has received a royal accolade for its efforts in recruiting and nurturing chefs to work in its kitchens. The 1,700-strong pub and restaurant chain set up a ‘Chefs Academy’, offering level 2 and 3 apprenticeships, in response to a chef shortage...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This