Kidderminster College's commitment to student development and social mobility has been recognised with a Purpose Coalition Breaking Down Barriers Award in recognition of its distinctive pledge to its students - the NCG Guarantee.
The Breaking Down Barriers Awards, held at the Houses of Parliament, recognise social mobility champions delivering opportunities for everyone, everywhere.
NCG, the college group that Kidderminster College is part of, won the 'Positive Destinations for Post 16+' category for the NCG Guarantee's transformative impact on thousands of young people nationwide.
The NCG Guarantee, sponsored by City & Guilds, a global leader in skills development, supports students at Kidderminster College in developing employability and life skills and helping them be genuinely competitive in their next steps into education or employment through various activities and projects.
Designed to offer students and stakeholders the real benefit of being part of a national group, it consists of five badges aligned to key principles of work readiness; Employability, Community, Enterprise, Mental Fitness, and Digital Literacy.
Collecting the award on behalf of NCG was Executive Principal Tony Lewin, Digital Learning Manager Darrell Muir and Kidderminster College Tutor Tammy Randle, who are active members of the Community of Practice for Enhancement.
Tony Lewin said: "NCG's mission is to enable social mobility, and our colleges exist to create life-changing opportunities for the diverse communities they are part of. The NCG Guarantee exemplifies our commitment to guiding young people across our colleges toward positive post-16 destinations. Its success is down to collaborative work from colleagues across NCG's colleges. That includes those who worked to develop the framework and deliver the activities to our learners and support them daily.
We are delighted to receive this award for our work through the NCG Guarantee. It illustrates the real impact of further education on individuals and how we work nationally as One NCG to break down barriers and create opportunities for young people."
The framework for the NCG Guarantee was developed in 2021 through a Community of Practice for Enhancement, led by Cat Lewis, the Principal of Kidderminster College, and made up of colleagues from all seven of NCG's colleges.
The group sought to expand on the already comprehensive skills-based curriculum delivered at each college, collaborating with employers and key stakeholders to provide a wide range of workshops, social action projects and community initiatives to challenge students and broaden their experiences.
Four years later, tens of thousands of students across NCG's colleges regularly benefit from the NCG Guarantee, including at Kidderminster College. Last year, more than 900 students at the college took part in confidence-building public speaking workshops with Loud Speaker, and many have worked on projects with local and national charities and employers.
Cat Lewis, Principal of Kidderminster College and Lead for the Community of Practice for Enhancement, said: "I'm thrilled that the NCG Guarantee has been recognised through this special award. What started as a vision to empower students to be work-ready during the challenging days of the Covid lockdown has become a national framework that celebrates their brilliant achievements while boosting their employability. This award is a testament to colleagues' hard work across our colleges and the collaboration we have facilitated with partners like Loud Speaker. I hope the NCG Guarantee continues to add value to our students' futures".
Congratulating the winners, the Chair of the Purpose Coalition and former Education Secretary, Rt Hon Justine Greening, said: "Our winners all lead by example, and I hope they will inspire others to step up to the plate and consider what they can do to make a difference for their colleagues, customers, and the communities they serve, especially in these challenging economic and social times."
As part of its ongoing commitment to enabling social mobility, NCG is a member of Purpose Coalition's Breaking Down Barriers Commission, which shapes the role that businesses and organisations can play in breaking down barriers to opportunity.
