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Sponge and The Child Mind Institute celebrate success at the 30th Annual Learning Awards

Bristol, UK17 Feb 2026Learning NewsSponge

Sponge and the Child Mind Institute pick up the Silver award in the People Development Programme of the Year

London, UK – 17 February 2026 – Sponge and the Child Mind Institute have been awarded Silver in the People Development Programme of the Year – Public Sector/Not for Profit category at the 30th Annual Learning Awards, hosted by the Learning and Performance Institute (LPI).

The award, presented at a ceremony held at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House London and attended by more than 800 global workplace learning leaders, recognised Sponge’s collaboration with the Child Mind Institute, commending the programme for its impact, innovation, and measurable contribution to people development within the not-for-profit sector.

Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious events in the L&D calendar, the Learning Awards celebrate excellence, innovation, and transformative impact in workplace learning. This year’s ceremony marked the 30th anniversary of the awards and saw a record-breaking number of nominations from 56 countries, evaluated by a panel of 66 independent industry experts.

The People Development Programme of the Year – Public Sector/Not for Profit category recognises initiatives that demonstrate clear strategic alignment, strong design, and measurable impact in supporting people and organisational performance.

For Sponge, the award reinforces the importance of purposeful design and close collaboration in delivering meaningful outcomes.

“We’re incredibly proud of this programme and the collaboration behind it,” said Beth Chudley, Head of Learning Solutions at Sponge. “Awards like this recognise not just creativity, but rigour, the strategic thinking, partnership, and measurable outcomes that sit beneath the surface of great learning experiences.”

Edmund Monk, CEO of the LPI, reflected on the milestone year:

“The Learning Awards has reached a significant milestone - 30 years of recognising excellence, celebrating success, and showcasing the incredible impact that learning professionals and organisations have on people’s lives and careers. 2026's record-breaking entries demonstrate that the learning industry is still vibrant, still innovative, and continues to transform businesses and empower individuals worldwide.”

The 30th Annual Learning Awards were presented by Claudia Winkleman, with Microsoft serving as headline partner. The evening also featured the LPI Charity Auction in support of The King’s Trust.

This recognition adds to Sponge’s growing list of industry accolades and reflects its ongoing commitment to designing learning experiences that create measurable impact across global organisations.