The shortlists for the Tes FE Awards 2019 and the Association of Colleges’ Beacon Awards 2019 have been unveiled.

The nominees were announced tonight at the Association of Colleges’ Annual Conference gala dinner at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Birmingham.

The Tes FE Awards 2019 ceremony, sponsored by the Education and Training Foundation, takes place on Friday 22 March 2019 at the Grosvenor House hotel in Park Lane, London.

‘Shining and inspiring examples’

Tes FE editor Stephen Exley said: “Many congratulations to all of the shortlisted individuals, teams and institutions. Making it on to the shortlist is an impressive achievement in itself. We hope you can join us for the awards ceremony, which promises to be the biggest ever celebration of success across the FE sector.”

Apprenticeships and skills minister Anne Milton said those shortlisted “should be really proud”. She added: “The Tes FE Awards and the AoC Beacon Awards are a fantastic way to highlight the exceptional and innovative work going on in the sector. I know this will continue, develop and even get better. I want everyone to be encouraged and inspired by your example.”

‘Delighted at the quality of finalists’

Carole Stott, chair of the Association of Colleges, said the Beacon Awards were established more than 20 years ago to recognise and celebrate best practice in colleges across the UK. “This year we have introduced a number of changes to ensure we are in step with developments in the sector and to encourage applicants to identify and submit their best practice,” she said.

“We are once again delighted at the quality of finalists. We are especially pleased to be working with Tes to promote the great work that colleges do, which has such a positive impact on the lives of more than 2 million people.”

The upcoming Tes FE Awards ceremony will also host the presentation of the AoC Beacon Awards for the first time. Tickets are now on sale, with discounts available for table bookings. For more information, visit www.tesfeawards.co.uk.

Tes FE Awards: The Shortlist

FE leader of the year

• Patricia Jones, Bedford College
• Simon Pirotte , Bridgend College
• Mark Jones, Gower College Swansea
• Karen Dobson, Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group
• Mouhssin Ismail, Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Centre
• Lesley Davies, Trafford College
• Lyndsey Whiterod, Tyne Coast College
• Paul Phillips, Weston College

Teacher of the year

• Karen Walker, Abingdon & Whitney College
• Alice Eardley, Activate Learning
• Samantha Jones, Bedford College
• Tom Jones, Cardiff and Vale College
• Russell Alderson, City Lit
• Richard Spencer, Middlesbrough College
• Andrew Loveridge, Northampton College
• Claire Knapp, Weston College

Apprenticeship programme of the year

• AWE
• Bridgend College
• Bridgwater and Taunton College
• EKC Group
• Fareham College
• Glasgow Kelvin College
• Gloucestershire College
• Royal Air Force

Professional services team of the year

• Belfast Metropolitan College
• Bradford College
• Bridgwater and Taunton College
• City of Glasgow College
• Exeter College
• Fircroft College
• Kirklees College
• West London College

Training provider of the year

• BB Training Academy
• ELATT
• RMF construction training academy
• Skills Training UK
• Training 2 CARE UK
• Umbrella Training
• Weir Training
• Yorkshire College of Beauty

FE college of the year

• Barnsley College
• Bridgend College
• Exeter College
• Grimsby Institute of Further & Higher Education
• Nelson and Colne College
• North Hertfordshire College
• Truro and Penwith College
• Weston College

Sixth-form college of the year

• Ashton Sixth Form College 
• Cardinal Newman Sixth Form College

• Durham Sixth Form Centre
• Hills Road Sixth Form College
• Huddersfield New College
• Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College
• Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Centre
• St John Rigby College

Specialist provider of the year

• City College Peterborough
• Coleg Elidyr
• Derwen College
• Foxes Academy
• Queen Alexandra College
• The Manchester College
• Weston College’s Specialist Sensory Learning Base
• National Star

Adult and community learning provider of the year

• Fircroft College of Adult Education 
• Inspire Culture, Learning and Libraries (Nottinghamshire County Council)
• Kent Adult Education 
• Redbridge Institute of Adult Education
• Skills and Learning Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole
• Sutton College
• The WEA
• Working Men’s College 

Beacon Awards finalists

British Council International Award 

• National Star College
• Glasgow Kelvin College
• Grimsby Institute of Further & Higher Education
• Southern Regional College

The Careers and Enterprise Company Careers Education and Guidance Award 

• North West Regional College
• Sunderland College

Edge Award for Excellence in the Practical Delivery of Technical and Professional Learning

• Wiltshire College
• Grimsby Institute of Further & Higher Education
• EKC Group

Skills and Education Group Award for Social Mobility and Widening Participation

• Birkenhead Sixth Form College
• Bridgwater & Taunton College
• Abingdon & Witney College

AoC Mental Health and Wellbeing Award

• Middlesbrough College
• Weston College
• Reaseheath College
• Cardiff & Vale College

Effective use of Technology in Further Education Award (sponsored by Jisc)

• Grimsby Institute of Further & Higher Education
• Preston’s College
• Bolton College

City and Guilds College Engagement with Employers Award

• Weston College
• City of Glasgow College
• Havering College of Further & Higher Education
• Belfast Metropolitan College

RCU Support for Learners Award

• Barking & Dagenham College
• National Star College
• Activate Learning