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Congratulations to our 2025 Training APEX Awards winners, including #1 ESL Federal Credit Union, and our 2024 Emerging Training Leaders.

ESL Federal Credit Union netted the #1 position on the Training APEX Awards list for the first time, while Applied Materials, Inc., moved up to #2. Southern New Hampshire University, Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, and Allianz Insurance Company of North America achieved their first-ever rankings in the Top 5 (click here to see the full list).

Here are a few 2025 Training APEX Awards statistics:

  • The mean revenue for winners was $5.9 billion U.S. and $9.6 billion worldwide.
  • Representing 3.7 percent of payroll, the mean training budget was $11.9 million.
  • The mean number of employees trained was 66,003.
  • Winners had a mean of 80 full-time trainers and 68 part-time trainers. Organizations had a mean ratio of 839 employees per trainer.
  • Some 90 percent offered a tuition reimbursement program.
  • Technology infrastructure included: a learning management system (99 percent), talent management system (91 percent), and workforce management system (90 percent).
  • In terms of measuring training effectiveness, 93 percent of applicants utilized Return on Value and Return on Investment; 81 percent utilized Balanced Scorecard; and 78 percent used Six Sigma. Usage of the Kirkpatrick model was as follows: Level 1—99 percent; Level 2—98 percent; Level 3—97 percent; and Level 4—96 percent.

We also salute our Emerging Training Leader Awards winners. Click here to view  their profiles. Congratulations to all of our award winners, including our newest Training Hall of Fame members, Paychex, Inc.; State Compensation Insurance Fund; and The Haskell Company (click here for more information)!

Last but not least, I’m excited to introduce a new data-driven column, Training Pulse, in partnership with The Training Marketplace and the Learning & Development Professionals Club.

Lorri Freifeld
Lorri Freifeld is the editor/publisher of Training magazine. She writes on a number of topics, including talent management, training technology, and leadership development. She spearheads two awards programs: the Training APEX Awards and Emerging Training Leaders. A writer/editor for the last 30 years, she has held editing positions at a variety of publications and holds a Master’s degree in journalism from New York University.