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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