The BEST Awards recognize organizations that demonstrate enterprise-wide success as a result of employee talent development. The winners use learning as a strategic business tool to get results. View the entire list of 2024 BEST Award winners.

Academy programs deliver organized, comprehensive training dedicated to clearly defined topics from one central repository. At QinetiQ US, for example, its academy combines the individual efforts from professional development offerings across the company into one learning space. According to Sara Heflin, instructional designer at the 1,500-employee government contracting firm, the program "ensures consistent quality in delivery, evaluation of return on investment ... and alignment with our core values" while building a strong talent pipeline and boosting employee engagement.

The academy features 16 professional develop­ment programs for employees at all levels in a combination of audience-specific and all-inclusive offerings. The integrated talent management (ITM) team created the academy "to provide a one-stop shop for employees at various stages in their career journeys," explains Heflin. "Regardless of when you start and where you work, our company offers employees the opportunity to grow your skill sets and career through our hybrid \[professional development\] programs."

QinetiQ leverages internal subject matter experts to share their expertise with participants via semester courses, mentorship programs, leadership development training programs, and an internal Toastmasters club to enhance public speaking skills.

Participation in QinetiQ's academy programs varies, "but every employee has access to our comprehensive range of offerings, bolstered by an annual $6,050-per-employee benefit dedicated to investing in their learning and development," says Cristina Zuniga, who handles ITM and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging communications. The company also provides employees with 40 hours of paid leave specifically earmarked for learning, so they "don't need to compromise by taking time off for professional development," she adds.

At electric company Enerjisa Enerji in Istanbul, Turkey, the Energy Management Academy provides opportunities for staff to grow. The company, which employs more than 11,000 people, reports that it launched the academy to fulfill its strategic priorities and help solve the challenge of finding qualified energy management employees.

The academy facilitates training and TD for the company's Energy Management Directorate, which trades in the energy market. That function's performance and efficiency directly affects company profitability and operations.

The Energy Management Academy leverages blended learning, prioritizing participants' development needs in line with company values and strategies. The program includes role-play exercises, e-learning support, case studies, and webinars. Although many development programs in Turkey involve planning outside typical work hours, Enerjisa's employees can complete academy training during their workdays.

The comprehensive program prepares Energy Management Directorate staff for the future competencies. Content prioritizes updating employees' knowledge and skills with changing needs and promotes motivation and loyalty among participants.

Since its launch, the Energy Management Academy has been popular with employees on the energy management team. In fact, in a true win for the organization, the entire Energy Management department completed the academy program. The company's talent management and development team reports that the academy has achieved all its goals, including decreasing employee turnover and increasing promotion rates among the energy management team.