Write a commentThe Southern Regional College is celebrating after being named as an Association of Colleges Beacon Award winner for its scheme to inspire an entrepreneurial spirit among its students and staff.
The Awards, which this year celebrate 17 years of outstanding teaching and learning in Further Education Colleges, were announced at the AoC’s Annual Conference and Exhibition in Birmingham on 16 November. Tim Smit, Co-founder and Chief Executive of the Eden Project, announced the 2010 Beacon Award winners and Highly Commended Colleges in the Responsiveness, Partnership and Impact category.
Southern Regional College won the Enterprise UK Award for Enterprise for its Inspire Programme, which has a mission to encourage employment, business start-ups and the development of problem-solving skills for all students. The Award recognises work with staff and students to develop enterprise, both in the curriculum and by providing guidance and support for would-be entrepreneurs.
The College won the Award for the range of more than 70 projects it has run with the support of 51 companies to date. There are cross-curricular learning activities for students and staff, including competitions to create a College cookbook and to work with a local communications company to develop marketing materials, and the opportunity to develop a marketing strategy for two local businesses.
The success of the Inspire programme has led to a greater number of students seeing self-employment as a valid career option; within the last year more than 300 students have taken part in pre-business start-up investment programmes.
Southern Regional College also runs Greenshoots Ltd., the only campus-based business incubation unit in Northern Ireland, which has been running for four years. The College is sharing its experience of nurturing entrepreneurial skills more widely with the Northern Ireland network of Colleges.
The UK-wide Beacon Awards provide national recognition for excellence and innovation as well as acknowledging the talents of staff at all levels. They highlight the breadth and quality of education in the College sector.
Chair of the AoC Beacon Awards, Dame Patricia Morgan-Webb, said: “Beacon Award winners raise the bar when it comes to finding new ways of doing things to enable Colleges to play a leading role in the communities they serve. They help contribute to social justice by widening participation in further education and play a key role in local economic and social regeneration by encouraging links with local businesses and supporting people, both in and out of work, in learning new skills.
“We are pleased that this year’s winners have been drawn from all parts of the UK and all demonstrate traits of innovation, creativity, responsiveness and a collaborative approach. Once again, I am delighted on behalf of the AoC Charitable Trust to acknowledge and reward the exemplary contribution made by these Colleges.”
Spokesperson for the College, Brian Doran, Chief Executive, said: “The Southern Regional College is both honoured and delighted to have been awarded the prestigious Enterprise UK AoC Beacon Award. Today’s award is a tremendous boost to everyone in the College and recognises the creative and innovative work that both staff and students have undertaken in recent years in promoting a culture of enterprise and entrepreneurship across all our campuses. I have every confidence that we will use this award as a further stepping stone in our journey of encouraging and developing young people to become the business leaders and entrepreneurs of the future. “
Minister for Employment and Learning, Danny Kennedy, commented, 'I would like to congratulate the Southern Regional College on winning The Enterprise UK Award for Enterprise at the recent AoC Beacon Awards. Winning such an award is testament to the dedication and hard work undertaken by the College's staff to ensure students have access to a wide range of enterprising opportunities. Through availing of these opportunities students can develop the necessary entrepreneurial skills which will contribute to the continued growth of Northern Ireland's private sector over the months and years ahead'.
Southern Regional College will host a local celebration event in the New Year and will be presented with their Award by John Hayes MP, Minister of State for Further Education, at a national presentation ceremony due to be held in Westminster on 9 February 2011.
