Big win for Wigan and Leigh College and its apprenticeship schemes
It was a proud night for Wigan and Leigh College as it came up trumps in the Educate North Awards for its apprenticeship provision
Wigan and Leigh College was delighted to have been declared winnersof the Apprenticeship Award in the higher and further education sector at the prestigious Educate North Awards.
The event, held at Old Trafford Cricket Ground, crowned a great evening in which the institution received superb recognition for all the hard work, dedication, and excellence shown over the last year.
Assistant principal - employment and skills, Kendra Heyes, said: "Winning this award is a proud moment for our college.
“It reflects the exceptional leadership shown across our apprenticeship delivery that's driven real growth, widening participation, increasing achievement, and creating genuine social mobility opportunities across the North.”
The college has faced a challenging apprenticeship landscape, with declining national trends, especially for 16 to 18 apprenticeships.
Despite this, its aim was to increase participation, particularly among young people and underrepresented groups, while addressing local and regional skills gaps in high-priority sectors such as engineering, construction, care and professional services.
"In a challenging national climate, seeing a 47 per cent rise in 16 to 18 engagement demonstrates what is possible when innovation and purpose come together,” added Kendra.
"We share this success with our employer partners, 73 per cent of whom are SMEs, whose collaboration allows us to deliver truly tailored solutions.
“Together, we've transformed our apprenticeship offer through innovative, employer-led programmes that respond directly to regional skills gaps and open doors for more people to succeed."