Bit Famous – Finalist, Learning and Development Supplier of the Year 2025

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By Penny Haslam

MD and Founder - Bit Famous

Bit Famous named as finalist in Personnel Today Awards 2025 for L&D Supplier of the Year.

We’re delighted to share that Bit Famous, in partnership with the College of Policing, has been shortlisted as a Finalist in the Personnel Today Awards 2025 in the Learning & Development Supplier of the Year category – for the second consecutive year.

This recognition highlights our impactful work supporting senior police leaders from underrepresented backgrounds to develop confidence, communication skills and career momentum. Here’s a closer look at what made the programme stand out.

Supporting diverse police leadership through workplace confidence training

The College of Policing asked Bit Famous to help develop the next generation of executive police leaders. The aim? To better reflect society by encouraging Superintendents and Chief Superintendents from underrepresented groups to see executive leadership as a positive and achievable career path.

Our bespoke online training series focused on three key areas:

Building workplace confidence

Establishing peer-led mastermind groups

Communicating a clear vision for policing

All sessions were delivered live and online by our founder Penny Haslam, a former BBC journalist turned award-winning motivational speaker and confidence coach. The recordings were also made available for 12 months, ensuring flexibility for busy officers.

How our leadership development programme made an impact

Over 226 officers from 30 of 43 police forces in England and Wales took part, along with participants from 16 additional organisations. Each session attracted 60–70 attendees, with the programme reaching far beyond the live events.

Key stats from post-session feedback:

92% felt better equipped to handle workplace challenges

90% felt more confident in communicating their vision or message

Sessions were rated 4.1 to 4.6 out of 5 across clarity, knowledge and engagement

Attendees described the sessions as “energising”, “relevant”, “encouraging” and “straightforward to implement” – a winning combination for time-pressed leaders.

Creating long-term behaviour change through mastermind groups

One stand-out element was our focus on Mastermind Groups – structured peer-to-peer learning environments that build connection, support and momentum across forces.

Participants were shown how to:

Set up and run a group

Establish ground rules and meeting structure

Build trust, challenge thinking and grow together

Initial feedback shows a ripple effect beyond the sessions themselves. Participants are forming their own groups and developing stronger communication and listening skills. These groups provide much-needed accountability, guidance and peer support – crucial ingredients for leadership growth.

Independent evaluation from Northumbria University

To measure the impact of our work, we partnered with Northumbria University’s Applied Business Psychology team. The independent study assessed changes in participants' confidence, peer support and leadership development through pre- and post-session surveys.

Preliminary findings from a sample of 500 police staff show:

Improved confidence in achieving work goals

Better understanding of how confidence and behaviour are linked

A notable increase in perceived manager support after the workshop

This academic evaluation backs up the strong anecdotal feedback we’ve received over the years: our interventions don’t just feel good – they make a lasting difference.

Feedback from the College of Policing

Here’s what our client had to say:

“The CPD sessions delivered by Bit Famous Ltd have made a significant and positive impact on leaders from all stages of leadership across our policing portfolio… Penny’s delivery style brought both insight and inspiration.”

“The programme was exceptionally well-designed, innovative and professionally delivered. It struck the right balance between support and stretch.”

— Rebecca Riley, Senior Leaders Hub Manager & Megan James, Trainer Development & Standards Manager, College of Policing

Building confidence and inclusion in the police workforce

Confidence isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a vital skill for any leader who wants to communicate clearly, handle complexity and support others. In the context of policing – our work has helped participants feel seen, valued and equipped to lead.

Attendees told us:

“Confidence is a real issue and not spoken about.”

“Penny is amazing. You feel like you could sit and have a good natter with her… It’s reassuring that with practice we can all be a Bit Famous.”

This level of engagement, honesty and reflection is rare in large-scale online training. Our sessions created something more than a webinar – they became safe, supportive spaces for growth.

What’s next for Bit Famous and the College of Policing?

Due to the programme’s success and record-breaking sign-ups, the College of Policing is planning a second cohort. In the meantime, we’ve been commissioned to deliver a similar programme to more junior officers – with over 1,000 already signed up.

The winners of the Personnel Today Awards will be announced in autumn 2025. Whatever the outcome, we’re proud to have contributed to a culture shift in public service leadership – where confidence, communication and inclusion take centre stage.

About Bit Famous

Bit Famous is a UK-based communication and confidence training company. We help leaders become confident communicators who inspire trust, influence decisions and thrive at work. Our clients span the public and private sectors, with a focus on practical, high-impact learning that sticks.

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