Elliott Hudson College celebrated their recent award win of ‘School or College of the Year’ at a national awards ceremony hosted on Wednesday 27 April by Career Ready, the UK-wide social mobility charity.

The ‘School or College of the Year’ Award, sponsored by AstraZeneca, recognises schools and colleges that have demonstrated excellence in implementing the Career Ready programme and providing high-quality careers support to their students. Runners-up in the category include Trafford College in Manchester and New City Redbridge College in London.

The Careers Team won the award in recognition of their work with students to enhance their employment prospects, either through university progression, applications to apprenticeship or employment schemes.

College staff were excited to have their hard work recognised and proud to have contributed to Elliott Hudson College’s success in winning the award.

Georgia Lerums, a student at Elliott Hudson College on the Career Ready programme said:

“I have really enjoyed being part of the Career Ready programme so far. My mentor is very friendly and even though I was nervous to meet her I quickly found that she was easy to talk to. My confidence has massively improved thanks to her, and she’s also helped me learn the skills I’ll need when in the workplace.

The Careers Team at Elliott Hudson College offers students are wide range of services including:

• One-to-one careers advice meetings
• Publishing a weekly digital careers newsletter for students
• UCAS, job application and CV writing workshops
• Coordinating networking events with local employers
• Planning trips to university open days across the UK
• Arranging industry experts to speak to students
• Running professional skills workshops and seminars
• Organising trips to business and industrial workplaces.

Clare Lucas, Assistant Principal – Careers and Destinations at Elliott Hudson College said:

“We are delighted to have been named ‘School or College of the Year’ at the Career Ready Awards. Since 2017, 72 of our young people have completed the programme and it’s provided them with invaluable opportunities and experiences. Its opened up pathways and destinations for so many of our young people and enabled them go on and shine in their careers.”

Tokunbo Ajasa-Oluwa, Chief Executive of Career Ready said:

“We are delighted to work in partnership with Elliott Hudson College and we’d like to congratulate them on being named our ‘School or College of the Year’. Over the last year and in challenging circumstances, the college has gone above and beyond to ensure that their learners receive high-quality careers support and are engaged with our programme.”

Elliott Hudson College has been working with Career Ready since 2017 to provide their learners with an employability programme of mentoring with local employers, paid internships, skills masterclasses, and workplace visits to local businesses.