Xtrac, a pioneer and innovator in developing transmission systems for professional top-level motorsport and high-performance automotive applications, has received its third Princess Royal Training Award. It is the only company in the automotive and motorsport industry to win the apprenticeship training mark of recognition for a third time. Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, will present the award at a ceremony where 52 award winners, including Bentley Motors and Lotus Cars from the automotive sector, will gather in November.

“We’re delighted to receive this accolade again because it recognises our long-standing investment in developing the proficiency of all our multi-skilled employees,” says Xtrac’s chief executive, Adrian Moore, who began his career as an undergraduate sponsored by Rolls-Royce. “The hard work we put into our training schemes ensures the capability of our future workforce for the benefit of all stakeholders, including our customers, employees, investors, and suppliers. It is the cornerstone of our success.”

Xtrac was previously recognised in 2018 and 2021 for its apprenticeship programme. Since then, it has opened its own in-house training academy and enhanced its mentoring network, resulting in a visit by Her Royal Highness in 2022. During the visit to Xtrac’s global headquarters in Thatcham, located in the appropriately named Royal County of Berkshire, Dame Ann Limb DBE DL, chair, and Kirstie Donnelly MBE, chief executive, were in attendance alongside Her Royal Highness, who serves as President of the City and Guilds of London Institute.

Over 30 per cent of Xtrac’s employees are under 30. Hence, continual investment in training is crucial to its ongoing business growth, with recent investment in additional state-of-the-art test facilities and significantly increased manufacturing capacity to meet growing global demand. Also celebrating its 40th anniversary, it aims to remain the world leader in advanced motorsport and high-performance automotive transmission systems.

The company introduced its apprenticeship scheme in 1991 and has worked with Newbury College since 2003 and the University Centre Newbury (UCN) since its opening in 2020 to deliver its apprenticeships in advanced manufacturing. Xtrac has since been an exemplar of engineering training and learning best practices in a high-growth company.