More, Different and Better

Last Thursday over 500 people turned up at the NEC in Birmingham to celebrate Further Education, at the Times Educational Supplement FE Awards. Alongside the enormous range of activity going on at The Skills Show, these Awards were set up by the TES to recognise the imagination, ability and professionalism of those working with post-16 Learners. The winners in all the categories showed commitment, innovation, quality and teamwork, with entries of, ‘an unbelievably high standard’, as Gerard Kelly, Editor of the TES said.

All the award winners were exceptional in the way they managed and developed their organisations, in how they engaged new and different learners and ensured a superb quality of teaching and learning.

HMP Hewell, for example, won the award for Outstanding Employer Engagement for their work in building up links with local employers, dispelling concerns about working with offenders and engaging with employers to offer real jobs, such as with the National Grid and DHL.

This is one way to stop recidivism by getting people into sustainable employment. This award recognises the commitment of prison staff to supporting those they work with.

Birmingham Metropolitan College won the Outstanding Entrepreneurship in Learning and Skills Award (sponsored by NCEE) for its work setting up the MET Enterprise Academy working with over 100 employers and engaging 5000 learners in an entrepreneurship programme. This programme offers lectures and master classes, visits and internships, alongside practical experience of running a business. But on top of this, and of most interest to the judges, was the way the College tries to instil values of social responsibility. The college has been successful not only in business and entrepreneurship, but in the social element as well.

It was a pleasure to act as one of the judges at these awards. It gave me a chance to see the amazing range of work done by post-16 providers. What really shone through was their determination and dedication to offer high quality teaching and learning, and to develop top class organisations, whether through outstanding financial management or their contribution to the local authority.

Award ceremonies like this are vital for our sector; they illustrate, first hand, how learning changes lives and transforms entire communities. The focus of celebration now turns to our Adult Learners’ Week Awards, there’s just over 3 weeks left to nominate individuals and providers for their remarkable learning achievements and opportunities. There are so many exceptional examples across our sector, please share them with us.