City of Wolverhampton College has won the Association of Colleges (AoC) Leading Light Award for its programme tackling local unemployment and skill shortages.
An AoC spokesperson praised the college’s work with small, medium and large employers, including Jaguar Land Rover, BAE Systems and Lego.
She said the programme was geared at ensuring that “students and adults are provided with the right skills for the jobs available”.
“It is aimed at employees, unemployed people and apprentices. It identifies areas of skills shortages such as construction, engineering and healthcare and sets them as key priorities,” the spokesperson added. “All students enrolled onto a substantial course at the college are given the opportunity to undertake work experience, which introduces them to local employers.”
Principal Claire Boliver said: “We are absolutely delighted to win the award because it demonstrates our hard work with employers and the local community to get people back into work.”
The accolade was presented by Baroness Sharp of Guildford, president of the AoC charitable trust, at a ceremony in central London (pictured).
The college was one of 11 winners in the AoC Beacon Awards.
The full list of winning colleges:
AQA Award for the Development of Transferable Skills
Abingdon and Witney College
AoC Award for College Engagement with Employers and AoC Award for Outstanding Leadership of Improvement
City of Wolverhampton College
UCAS Progress Award for Careers Education and Guidance and CoLRiC Award for Effective Integration of Libraries/Learning Resources Centres in Curriculum Delivery
Weston College
City & Guilds Award for Staff Development in FE
Reading College (part of Activate Learning)
Edge Award for Practical Teaching and Practical Learning
Rotherham College of Arts & Technology
Gateway Qualifications Award for Widening Participation in Learning
Barking and Dagenham College
Jisc Award for Efficiency through Effective use of Technology in FE
South Eastern Regional College
Microlink and AoC Charitable Trust Award for Inclusive Learning
Leicester College
OCR Award for Innovation in FE
Exeter College
Pearson Award for the Promotion and Delivery of Successful Apprenticeships
City College Plymouth
Vtct Award for Sport in the Curriculum
Bridgwater College
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