SERC Announced as Beacon Award Finalists

Following on from the fantastic achievement of earning the Association of Colleges’ (AoC) Beacon Standard Commended status’ for two separate categories (Widening Participation and The City & Guilds Award for College Engagement with Employers), it has been announced that SERC are now finalists at the awards.

The Beacon Awards recognise outstanding and innovative practice by Further Education Colleges who demonstrate significant and positive impact on their students and the community.

Confirmed at the AoC Annual Conference, SERC move forward to the finals of the Widening Participation category for the great impact of the Care Project. Speaking about the awards Ellie Bradley, Deputy Head of School of Health, Early Years and Adult Education said, “This is a great achievement and fantastic recognition of our drive to make the College accessible to everyone.

“The Care Project at our Newcastle campus is at the heart of what SERC is about – inspiring adults to return to education, which sets to transform and enrich the lives of students, their families and their community.”

Ellie added, “With our determination to knock down the barriers for adult returners, we secured funding for our Little SERC creche, which provides childcare on campus during study hours. Students can therefore continue with their studies at SERC, contented their toddler is being cared for in the very same building.

“The children in Little SERC have become part of our learning community with their own garden and have access to the green initiatives within the Campus which includes compost heaps, a wormery, recycling stations, bird feeders as well as green areas developed by the students with the children in mind.”

The college was commended for the Engagement with Employers category for the continued engagement and collaborations with Fire and Security employers. The College has been involved with the establishment of a federations, developing qualifications and an apprenticeship framework.

The date of the awards finals are yet to be confirmed but will take place by the end of January 2022.

Visit www.serc.ac.uk to unlock your future #BetterOffAtSERC.