The Most Issue 2

Preston’s College staff and learners have been celebrating, after winning the prestigious AoC Beacon Award for Support for Students, sponsored by RCU, at the 25th annual awards ceremony. Chosen for the pioneering response to changing migration patterns in the Preston area, supporting increasingly vulnerable English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) learners and cementing the college’s position as a College of Sanctuary in the area; the award provides recognition for the comprehensive learner support systems available at Preston’s College and the positive impact those systems make on the lives of asylum seeker and refugee learners. The initiative, titled ‘Making a Difference in the Lives of our ESOL learners’, was chosen as the overall category winner, evidencing how learners are both empowered and equipped with vital skills, with the wider project offering a holistic approach to improving integration, education and progression opportunities for ESOL learners. Julie Nerney, Chair of AoC Charitable Trust commented: “This college has gone above and beyond in equipping and empowering students to have a voice, to solve their own challenges, make their own choices and to participate in their community. They have shown great dedication to fully support students into college, employment and adult life, enabling them to achieve their goals and helping them to transform their lives.” Dr Lis Smith, Principal and Chief Executive Officer at the College added: “I am delighted that we have won the AoC Support for Students Beacon Award; a category which truly reflects our vision and values and places learners at the heart of everything we do. The ESOL team are a wonderful team who continue to work passionately and tirelessly, to seek opportunities to support the asylum seeker and refugee community, alongside the wider ESOL community. Ourselves and the Governors are extremely proud of the team and are fully committed to supporting an inclusive community provision. Widening access and participation is a fundamental element of the College Strategy and we are passionate about ensuring that learners from under-represented groups and those from disadvantaged backgrounds have fair access to education.” PRESTON’S COLLEGE WINS PRESTIGIOUS ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES (AOC) BEACON AWARD! APPRENTICESHIPS ON THE RISE Despite the Covid-19 lockdown and the temporary closure of many businesses, Preston’s College apprenticeship programmes have continued to progress. Our Employer Engagement and Apprenticeship Specialists have worked positively with employers, to ensure the majority of our apprentices were either furloughed or were able to keep employment, particularly when the UK Government imposed a national lockdown. One of the employers continuing to work with the team is Lancashire Constabulary. A supportive employer of the college, having worked with Preston’s College for many years, Lancashire Constabulary have continued to train existing apprentices throughout the Covid-19 epidemic and have recently created four new apprenticeship positions in business administration, customer service and automotive. To all the employers who have supported and continue to support their apprentices throughout the pandemic, thank you. | 6