ONE down, two to go CPP Group plc, one of York's biggest employers, has won a coveted National Training Award for the Yorkshire region for its outstanding approach to employer training.

The victory comes as the life assistance company, which employs more than 1,500 people at Holgate Park, York, has reached the finals of two other major competitions.

It is in the running for The Badenoch & Clark Business of the Year Award in this year's prestigious UK National Business Awards.

Last month, the £198.1 million turnover company was shortlisted in the final three of the Best Business and Education Link category of The Press Business Of The Year Awards 2007.

The National Training Awards accolade is in recognition of CPP's commitment to its development programme for its call centre employees known as "engaged selling" , which incorporates the modules, "engage, evolve, enhance and excel."

The training was introduced last year to replace a "scripted" approach to selling products, a cautious method introduced in 2005 when the Financial Services Authority began regulating insurance product sales.

The compliance focus meant that agents were not able to engage with customers and adapt their style.

With ten million customers across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific, CPP offers a wide range of products and services that provide protection for credit and debit cards, mobile phones, keys and personal identities.

Having reached the finals of the Badenoch & Clark Business of the Year Award in the National Business Awards, judges said CPP was shortlisted for its "vision, energy, leadership and audacity to move away from its historic business model and pioneer an entirely new consumer category, in the emerging Life Assistance market."

CPP, already with ten million customers, aims to be the world's leading provider for life assistance products.

A "delighted" Stephen Kennedy, CPP's managing director, said: "It's a great honour to be recognised and it is a great compliment for our employees."

National Business Awards finalists made presentations to a panel of judges through late September and early October.

The winners will receive their awards at a gala dinner and ceremony in central London on Tuesday, November 13.

Two days later, the CPP team will attend The Press Business Awards at a glittering awards night at York Racecourse.