The Sheffield College has been shortlisted as a finalist for a national award recognising outstanding careers education and guidance.

Celebrating the best and most innovative practice among UK further education colleges each year, the Association of Colleges’ (AoC) Beacon Awards comprise 10 categories.

The Sheffield College is a finalist in the Careers and Enterprise Company Award for Innovation in Careers and Enterprise category. The award celebrates outstanding examples of careers education and guidance.

Angela Foulkes, Chief Executive and Principal, The Sheffield College, said: “This is fantastic news for the College and testament to the difference we are making to the student experience. The awards demonstrate the far-reaching impact of colleges on their students and the communities they serve. I am incredibly proud of our staff.”

James Smythe, Assistant Principal, Student Experience, The Sheffield College, commented: “In a world where education, enterprise and work opportunities are constantly changing, students need easy access to high quality support and information to go further in their careers. It’s an honour to be shortlisted in the AoC Beacon Awards.”

In addition to being shortlisted, the College has been recognised as a Beacon commended college in two of the awards categories – the Careers and Enterprise Company Award for Innovation in Careers and Enterprise, and the City and Guild Award for College Engagement with Employers – for reaching AoC Beacon Standard.

David Hughes, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges, said: “These colleges have shown great innovation in highly effective engagement with schools, employers and other agencies, to provide learners with excellent impartial careers education, advice and guidance.”

He added: “Enabling learners to make informed choices about their progression to further study and training, including apprenticeships will have a lasting effect on the rest of their lives.”

The AoC Beacon Awards finalists were announced at the AoC FE Summit this week on November 17th, 2020. The winners will be announced in Spring 2021.