Author: Emma Wilde

Shrewsbury College is delighted to announce that it has been named in the Top Ten big companies in the country in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026.  This award recognises the outstanding performance of all college staff who work tirelessly in the interests of our students.

 

This recognition marks a significant achievement for the college and acknowledges its ongoing commitment to fostering a positive, supportive and inclusive workplace.

The prestigious accolade is based on comprehensive staff feedback and recognises organisations that demonstrate excellence in employee engagement, wellbeing, instilling pride, job satisfaction, and opportunities for professional growth.

The Sunday Times Award closely follows the college’s ‘Outstanding’ rating by Ofsted in March 2025, confirming the dedication of college staff to delivering outstanding education and support for people in the region.

James Staniforth, Principal of Shrewsbury College, said:

“We are incredibly proud to be recognised by The Sunday Times as one of the best big organisations to work for. This award is a testament to the commitment, professionalism and care our staff show every day, and I would like to thank every member of our college team.”

He continued: “This recognition reinforces our belief that putting people first leads to stronger teams, a more inclusive culture and better outcomes for our entire college community. This award recognises the dedication of our staff who make Shrewsbury College a great place to work, which in turn ensures our students receive an exceptional experience and outcomes.”

Donna Lucas, Vice Principal for People, added:

“Very few colleges have received such an award, and I’m delighted that the culture that we have created together has been recognised and celebrated in such a way.

Shrewsbury College continues to invest in staff wellbeing, development and leadership at all levels, ensuring our colleagues feel valued, empowered and supported in doing their best work for our students.”

Joycelin Hoyland, Chair of Governors for the college, concluded:

“In the last 18 months, the college has been recognised as an outstanding place to study, and now this Sunday Times Best Places to Work award recognises that we are also a great place to work. I am confident that this award will inspire all staff to make the college an even better place to work and study.”

Construction is now underway on Buckinghamshire College Group’s new High Wycombe Campus, delivered in partnership with Kier, following a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday 15 May. 

This landmark development in the heart of High Wycombe marks a significant milestone in the College’s vision to create modern, innovative learning environments that will equip the next generation of skilled professionals across Buckinghamshire. 

Bringing together the current Amersham and Flackwell Heath campuses into a single, accessible town centre location, the new campus, spanning Oxford Road and Brook Street, will offer industry-standard facilities designed to support vocational, technical and professional education. 

Guests attending the ceremony included Graeme Dell, Deputy Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire; Chairman of Buckinghamshire Council, Cllr Sarfaraz Khan Raja; Cllr Steven Broadbent, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council; Martin Tugwell, Chair of Governors, Buckinghamshire College Group; Jenny Craig, Principal and CEO; and John McGrath, Chief Operating Officer, alongside representatives from Kier and key project partners. 

Once complete, the campus will accommodate more than 1,300 full-time and part-time students, with high-quality, specialist spaces dedicated to construction, engineering, health, science, creative industries and digital technologies, sectors that are vital to the region’s future growth. 

The development will feature a purpose-built construction and engineering skills centre on Brook Street, providing hands-on, industry-relevant training, alongside a seven-storey building on Oxford Road. This main building will house contemporary classrooms, specialist workshops, creative studios, digital learning environments and social spaces designed to enhance the student experience. 

This ambitious project is central to Buckinghamshire College Group’s long-term commitment to strengthening skills provision across the county. By expanding access to high-quality vocational and technical education, the College will support local employers, drive productivity and contribute to sustainable regional economic growth. 

The development is supported by project manager Peter Marsh Consulting and is funded through the Department for Education’s FE Capital Transformation Fund. 

Jenny Craig, CEO of Buckinghamshire College Group, said: “Today marks a hugely exciting milestone for Buckinghamshire College Group, our students, staff and the wider community. 

“This new campus represents ambition, opportunity and investment in the future of Buckinghamshire. We are creating a modern learning environment that will inspire students, strengthen links with employers and provide the skills our region needs for years to come. 

“We are proud to be building a campus that reflects the aspirations of our community and gives every learner the opportunity to succeed.” 

Emma Reynolds, MP for Wycombe, said: “It is fantastic to see construction officially begin on this transformational project for High Wycombe. Investing in education and skills is investing in the future of our communities, local businesses and young people. This new campus will provide outstanding facilities and opportunities for students across Buckinghamshire while helping to develop the skilled workforce our economy needs.” 

Cllr Steven Broadbent, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council, said: “This development is a major investment in the future talent of Buckinghamshire. Creating high-quality learning environments and strong pathways into employment is essential for the continued success of our local economy, and it is wonderful to see this vision becoming a reality.” 

John Bolton, Regional Director, Public, Kier Construction London and Thames Valley, said: “We are delighted to be delivering this important project for Buckinghamshire College Group. The new campus will provide exceptional facilities for students and staff, creating a vibrant education hub at the heart of High Wycombe. We look forward to working closely with all partners as construction progresses.”

Selby College has developed a brand-new suite of gaming and website development courses, designed to equip aspiring creators with the skills, experience and confidence to thrive in the rapidly growing games industry.

The Level 2 Creative Media Production & Technology (Games & Web Development) and the Level 3 Creative Media Production & Technology (Game Development) programmes offer students a hands-on, immersive journey into game and website creation, blending technical training with creative exploration. From mastering core game design principles to developing fully functional websites, learners will gain practical insights into how modern games and websites are built, tested and published.

Ideal for learners taking their first steps into digital creation, this Level 2 programme equips students with foundational skills in game design, web design, programming, UX, animation, and interactive media. The course blends creativity with technical training and is taught through engaging, project?based units, including developing original games using industry?standard tools such as the Unity engine.

Whereas the Level 3 course is a deep dive into modern game development, guiding students through every stage of creating playable, publishable games. From mastering gameplay mechanics through programming to exploring platform?specific publishing processes, learners gain real-world skills using industry-standard software.

Rob Charlish, Head of Digital Industries and Computing at Selby College, which is part of the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, said: “The global games industry continues to expand at remarkable speed, creating a surge in demand for skilled developers, designers and digital artists. That is why we have created our new gaming and web development programmes, which will empower students to stop simply playing games – and to start creating them. Through real-world projects and direct support from industry professionals, students will gain the knowledge and experience needed to turn their ideas into polished, playable realities.”

Students will learn from experienced industry professionals, work on real-world projects first-hand and build a portfolio of work they can use to showcase their skills to potential employers. Most importantly, they will be able to gain the skills and experience they need to succeed in the industry.

By the end of the courses, students will have produced a portfolio of working game prototypes alongside a solid understanding of the game publishing landscape – placing them in a strong position to progress into further study or pursue a career within the games industry.

If you would like to find out more about the Digital Industries Department at Selby College, please visit: Digital Industries

The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group has ranked first in Yorkshire & the Humber for student achievement amongst General Further Education Colleges, also securing fifth place nationally.

This highly impressive result follows a strong performance across the Group’s 16–18 provision, with the latest Department for Education National Achievement Rate Tables (NARTs) for 2024/2025, confirming the Group as the region’s highest-performing FE college for learners aged under 19.

In addition to this success, the Group also achieved fourth place regionally for Apprenticeship achievement rates, further highlighting its strength across further education and skills training.

The results position the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group and its three colleges – Castleford College, Selby College and Wakefield College – as having the best achievement results of all further education colleges in Yorkshire & the Humber region and being the fifth top-performing further education college in England, reflecting the quality of teaching, support and student outcomes delivered across its campuses and programmes.

The NARTs are key summary indicators of performance in education and training and apprenticeships and demonstrate the percentage of students that were awarded their qualifications. Published annually, the national tables rank over 150 colleges.

Sam Wright, Principal and Chief Executive at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, said: “I am so proud of this phenomenal accolade. Being ranked first in the region for our 16-18 achievement rates and fifth nationally is something we are incredibly proud of and reflects both the ambition of our students and the quality of education and support across the Group. These results are a true reflection of the dedication and care shown by our staff, who go above and beyond every day to help our learners succeed academically, grow as individuals and move forward with confidence into their next steps.”

Combining Castleford College, Selby College and Wakefield College, the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group saw outstanding pass rates in 2024/2025, with Selby College securing a 99% pass rate across its A Level programmes and Wakefield College a 98%. Castleford College and Wakefield College also achieved an impressive 100% pass rate for their T Level courses.

A significant number of its learners also progressed onto employment or higher education, including Russell Group universities such as the University of Oxford, University of Sheffield, University of Nottingham and many more.

Following strong results, Sixth Form students Ben Nelson and Henry Toye progressed to the University of Oxford to study Chemistry and Law.

Across its colleges, the Group offers a broad range of 16–18 study programmes, including A Levels, T Levels and vocational and technical courses. It also delivers a wide variety of apprenticeships, designed to reflect local labour market needs and support learners into meaningful careers.

To find out more about the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, visit: https://www.heartofyorkshire.ac.uk/

The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group recently held its annual Give Construction A Try (GCAT) event, giving local secondary school pupils the opportunity to explore the wide range of career opportunities available within the construction industry.

Over 200 pupils from sixteen local schools took part in the event, taking part in a range of activities including brickwork, plastering, quantity surveying, scaffolding and digital technology.

Held at Castleford College, the event was opened by Sam Wright, Principal and Chief Executive Officer at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group and Andrew Drisdelle, Civil Construction Director for Milestone, who was the headline sponsor of the event.

In his opening speech, Andrew celebrated the multitude of opportunities available for young people within the construction industry and highlighted the important role that education plays in enabling young people to achieve their goals.

Throughout the day, over thirty employers ran various workshops that gave pupils the chance to explore and learn numerous construction skills. Some of the activities that were on offer included trimble laser scanning, controlling a plant simulator, emergency crisis planning, constructing a communications tower and building a low carbon Lego house.

Sessions were delivered by Hargreaves, Willmott Dixon, Caddick, Morgan Sindall Property Services, Vico Homes, Sigma, Wienerberger, Robertson, Illingworth & Gregory, BAM, Bowmer & Kirkland, Wates, Milestone, Tri-Tech, Marlborough, TransPennine Route Upgrade East Alliance, Meldrum Group, Equans, Keepmoat Homes, Kier Group, Flannery, KOREC Group, Cantidad, YIRTG, Building Futures, Consult DJH and Managing 2 Succeed.

Debbie Lee, Employer Engagement Manager at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, said: “Give Construction A Try provides a valuable opportunity to connect leading and emerging construction industry employers with young people who are beginning to explore their GCSE options. It allows pupils to discover the wide range of careers within the sector as we support them in expanding their understanding of future opportunities. The event was highly successful in achieving this, and we must thank the employers, schools and college staff that made the day so rewarding for pupils.”

With Give Construction a Try placing a strong emphasis on closing the gender gap within the construction industry, Kier delivered an inspiring session for female students to highlight the routes that they can take within the sector.

Hannah Jackson, a Graduate Quantity Surveyor at Kier, shared her personal journey into construction and reiterated that it was not a path she had ever considered pursuing until after she had left university.

She said: “The industry has come a long way and there’s always space for women and girls, who bring fantastic perspectives. My goal is to inspire more young girls to explore the opportunities the sector offers.”

Local schools who participated on the day included Kings High School, Carlton High School, Castleford Academy, Airedale Academy, Crofton Academy, Trinity Academy Cathedral, Woodkirk Academy, High Well School, St Thomas a Beckett, Kettlethorpe High School, Outwood Academy Freeston, De Lacy Academy, Selby High School, Barlby High School, Evolve Academy and Minsthorpe High School. 

This coincides with the completion of Castleford College’s new state-of-the-art Construction facility – a major investment that strengthens the Group’s Construction provision and gives students high-quality spaces to develop real industry skills and future career pathways.

To find out more about the Group’s Construction courses, visit its website: https://www.heartofyorkshire.ac.uk/.

Gower College Swansea is celebrating another amazing round of medals success in the Skills Competition Wales 2026.

Students were invited to a special ‘watch party’ and medal ceremony at the Tycoch Campus where they picked up three Gold medals, eleven Silver and three Bronze.

In addition, there were 23 Highly Commended certificates awarded to College students. 

Gold
Matilda Topliss – Industrial Electronics
Solomon Bunn-Sovin – Fashion Design and Technology
Steve Sebastian – Graphic Design

Silver
Brandon Price – Web Development
Connor Brown – Net Zero Skills 
Joshua Stock – Brickwork
Keyna Peynado – Graphic Design
Kobi Williams – Net Zero Skills
Kori Williams – Carpentry
Marley Blakemore – Industrial Electronics
Maya Brooks – Photography
Rhys Freeman – Net Zero Skills
Sophie Hockley – Ceramic Craft Skills
Thomas Rideout – Net Zero Skills

Bronze
Benjamin Hutchins – Photography
Jesse Moxham – Industrial Electronics
Maizie Lee – Beauty Therapist

Highly Commended
Aaron Moore – Plastering 
Amber Grey – Childcare
Ben Winstone – Accountancy
Bethan Guard – Childcare
Courtney Taylor – Inclusive Skills: Life Skills
Cynan Kingdon – Coding
Dalat Adebari – Health and Social Care
Emily-Grace Kitchin – Textiles and Surface Pattern Skills
Ethan Butler – Coding
Harley Dark – Creative Make Up
Isabelle Tracey-Fall – Beauty Therapist
Jack Hopkins – Photography
Josef Nisbet – Coding
Joshua Pritchard – Brickwork
Kaya-Louise Quinn – Industrial Electronics
Kelsey Smith – Beauty Therapy Practitioner (Body)
Louis Morgan – Industrial Electronics
Max Thomas – Accountancy
Nafis Islam – Inclusive Skills: Horticulture
Nikita Kod – Accountancy
Olga Roshchupkina – Hairdressing
Shimar Nazeem – Industrial Electronics
Tom Noble – Carpentry

Skills Competition Wales raises the profile of skills by giving students, trainees and apprentices the chance to test and improve their abilities through competition.

Funded by the Welsh Government and delivered by a network of colleges, work-based learning providers, and employer-led organisations, the competitions align with WorldSkills standards and support the needs of the Welsh economy.

“The Skills Competition Wales framework is invaluable in supporting and championing vocational skills and achievement across a broad range of subjects and sectors,” says Gower College Swansea Principal, Paul Kift. 

“We have a strong track record in these competitions, and we’re absolutely delighted to celebrate the success of these learners again in 2026. A special mention must also go to the College’s teaching and support staff who guide and mentor their students throughout the process, and whose dedication and commitment play an integral role in this continuing success.”