Bedford College has been shortlisted for three
awards by the prestigious Times Educational Supplement (TES).
The Outstanding Ofsted College, which has a
wide range of awards and prizes, has been shortlisted in
- Sustainability
- Outstanding HR team
- Leadership
In Sustainability, Bedford College has been
leading the way nationally since it was the first to be chosen to
run Skills for Energy courses. It was also the first FE college to
win a Green Gown Award, usually reserved for universities. On a
practical front the college has secured millions of pounds of
funding for the region and the county to provide vital training for
people in new “eco jobs”. The College has the only Director of
Sustainability in Esin Esat.
In HR the College has been regularly voted a
place where people would like to work and are satisfied in their
work. Innovative approaches to personnel issues - like rewards for
those who don’t take days off “sick” have saved the organisation
money overall, and ensured a consistency of teaching for students.
Director of HR Elizabeth Nash and her team are much respected.
In Leadership - Ian Pryce and his deputy CEO
Dave Pridmore have been recognised at a national level for the way
they have steered Bedford College through spending cuts which have
scuppered lesser colleges. Ian was recently made a CBE.
The finals of these awards will be announced
at a ceremony in London on November 11th.
Said Ian Pryce: “To be shortlisted in these
awards against competition from the best educational providers in
the UK is a great achievement. Bedford College really does lead the
way in many fields but we do it not for the glittering prizes, but
to make sure the young people of Bedfordshire have access to the
education and training they deserve - from A Levels to
apprenticeships and on to HE or degree level learning.”
