Following an assessment by Social Work England in August, the University Centre Grimsby has received official confirmation that they are now an accredited social work education institute.
Social Work England is the specialist regulator for the sector. It sets out the professional standards that a social worker in England must know, understand, and be able to do.
Speaking about what this accreditation means for the local area, Andy Cowdroy, Social Work Lead at the University Centre Grimsby, said:
“The aim of setting up our social work programmes is to work collaboratively with local partners and stakeholders to deliver and maintain the social work workforce. There are so many people out there who would make amazing social workers but are unable to access education. This will no longer be the case; we can now provide local social work education for local people.
“I want to say a huge thank you to all of those who have contributed to developing the programmes, as well as being part of the inspection. We could not have done it without your support.”
Ann-Marie Matson, Director of Children’s Services at North East Lincolnshire Council, who worked closely with University Centre Grimsby on the programmes, said:
“We are delighted to be working in partnership with the University Centre Grimsby, which has led to a social work degree course being created and will strengthen the local social work workforce. This collaboration is a real investment in our borough’s future – giving local people the opportunity to train, qualify and build rewarding careers in social work right here in our community.
“By developing skilled and passionate practitioners close to home, we can make a lasting difference to the lives of children, young people, and adults across our area. This is an exciting step forward for social work in our borough and a testament to what can be achieved!”
John Allen, Principal Social Worker for Adults Social Care, also shared:
“Having social work programmes delivered locally at the University Centre in Grimsby is a great step forward for our community. It means aspiring social workers can train close to home, strengthening the social care workforce and ensuring we reflect the needs of North East Lincolnshire. This investment in education will help us attract and retain talented people who are committed to making a difference in people’s lives.”
From September 2026, University Centre Grimsby will offer a full-time BA (Hons) Social Work degree and a BA (Hons) Social Work Degree Apprenticeship. The new social work courses are validated by TEC Partnership as the degree-awarding body. The degree apprenticeship has been developed following grant funding from the Office for Students. Both courses represent an exciting and innovative new higher education offer for Grimsby.
