Award success for college fashion and textile academy

NPTC Group of Colleges, fashion academy in Newtown has received a prestigious national award for a staff training programme that helped develop sustainable fashion and textile education.

The group has been named a recipient of a 2026 Princess Royal Training Award for its work in sustainability, ethical fashion and circular design.

The recognition has a direct link to Newtown, where investment in staff training helped NPTC Group secure Shared Prosperity Fund support to establish the Newtown Fashion and Textiles Academy which is based at the Royal Welsh Warehouse.

The Princess Royal Training Awards were established by the City & Guilds Foundation and are supported by HRH The Princess Royal. They recognise organisations that can demonstrate how investment in staff learning and development has delivered wider benefits.

NPTC Group received the award for a bespoke professional development programme designed to strengthen teaching skills in sustainability, ethical fashion and circular design.

It became the first further education college in the UK to co-create a bespoke training package with the Centre for Sustainable Fashion, part of London College of Fashion.

The work enabled the introduction of a Level 3 Sustainable Fashion qualification, which was subsequently expanded to include Levels 1 and 2.

According to the college group, the programme has improved opportunities for learners and supported progression into higher education and employment, while helping staff respond to changing skills requirements within the fashion and textiles sector.

The training also contributed to the successful funding bid which led to the creation of the Newtown Fashion and Textiles Academy.

NPTC Group has since hosted National Sustainable Fashion Week and delivered a Working with Wool programme combining traditional skills with contemporary applications.

Learners have also worked on a live industry-style project producing hats which were donated to The DPJ Foundation, a charity supporting mental health and wellbeing in the farming community.

Mark Dacey, CEO of NPTC Group of Colleges, said: "Receiving a Princess Royal Training Award is a tremendous achievement and a proud moment for NPTC Group of Colleges.

"This recognition reflects our commitment to investing in our people and ensuring that our staff have the skills, confidence and opportunities needed to deliver exceptional experiences and outcomes for our learners.

"The Sustainable Fashion programme demonstrates how innovation, collaboration and professional development can create meaningful impact, not only for our colleagues and students, but for the wider communities we serve."