Train4change (t4c), a training and consultancy company based in Swindon, has scooped the prestigious Supplier of the Year award at the 10th HSBC Rail Business Awards at London's Grosvenor House Hotel on Wednesday.

The victory marks the second time in three years the Wiltshire training company, which was established in 2000, have been awarded the title for services to the rail industry.

Reflecting on the achievement train4change's Managing Director Paul Hargreaves said: "We are delighted to have won this award, it is great recognition of our continued efforts to develop and provide training courses which have a positive impact on the UK's railways. Train4change will see more exciting growth over the coming year and this award marks a milestone in our continuing success."

Started by Paul Hargreaves a former actor and Sarah de Brion a training consultant, from their homes in Purton, t4c's unique training courses use actors and creative techniques to recreate delegates own working environments and bring them face to face with true to life workplace scenarios. From abusive customers to difficult management situations, the courses are designed to provoke an emotive response from attendees, helping motivate them to change their behaviour to ensure long lasting effectiveness from their learning.

The judges were impressed with train4change's novel approach to staff training. Category judge Paul Clifton, the BBC transport correspondent for southern England said; "train4change's realistic training scenarios with actors in the role of passengers and harassed staff have helped increase customer satisfaction scores, improved performance figures and generated positive testimonials from train operators and their employees who have attended the training events."

Enjoying growing success train4change, which always tries to employ people from the local geographical area, has increased in size from four associate staff members to 35 in less than five years.