Telford College is recognised for its ‘innovation’ in training
Telford College has been named as a finalist in the prestigious national Apprenticeship and Training Awards.
An independent panel of expert judges assessed more than 650 nominations from employers, training providers, colleges and universities.
Telford College is one of just four finalists in the category for ‘innovation in training and delivery’.
A parliamentary reception will take place at the House of Lords as part of National Apprenticeships Week in February to recognise the 2026 finalists, and the winners will be announced at a gala dinner on March 3.
The awards are run jointly by FE Week and the Association of Employment and Learning Providers, and delivered in partnership with City and Guilds.
Sarah Davies, executive director of partnerships and employer engagement at Telford College, said: “We are thrilled to be shortlisted for such a prestigious award.
“Our work in partnership with the Integrated Care System has had a significant impact on the workforce and transformed the way training is delivered.
“With the sector under immense pressure, we’ve embraced creativity and innovation in our delivery methods, and we’re delighted to see this recognised.”
Shane Mann, chair of the judging panel and chief executive of FE Week’s publisher EducationScape, said: “There were some lively debates among the judges, which speaks to the high standard of nominations from a sector that is constantly innovating and raising the bar.
“It was fascinating to see how training providers and employers are embedding AI into their programmes to personalise learning and enhance the curriculum.”
The shortlisting comes just weeks after Telford College celebrated success at another national competition - the ‘Get The Nation Learning’ awards, held at the Barbican in London.
Mark Jones, who signed up for Telford College’s ‘Into Employment’ programme to make learning opportunities more attainable for hard-to-reach individuals, won the New Directions award.
He was nominated in recognition of the significant obstacles he has overcome, and the progress he has made in turning his life around.
Mark said he was ‘truly honoured and absolutely amazed’ to have been given the award.
“I would like to thank Telford College for giving me the opportunity to retrain — it has impacted my life in such a positive way. After losing my second wife, I felt I had nothing to live for. But with support, I stood strong and made a complete career change.
“From working as a self-employed plasterer for 36 years, with no steady income, I was able to become a professional driver with the security of a regular wage. It’s something I’d always wanted to have a go at, but never thought I could.”
The Get The Nation Learning Awards, run by the Learning & Work Institute, are the biggest celebration of lifelong learning in England.
Mark was unable to attend the awards ceremony in London, so Sarah Davies, Aneeta Hazir and Beckie Bosworth from Telford College collected it on his behalf.
Beckie, director of apprenticeships and employer engagement, said: “We’re all so pleased for Mark, who richly deserves this award.
“It’s also a massive achievement for our employer engagement team at Telford College, on the back of the Engaging Adults in Learning prize we won this summer at the West Midlands Combined Authority adult learning awards.”
