The achievements and extraordinary contributions of more than 20 Lincoln College students and staff were commended at a winter wonderland awards ceremony.
The awards on the evening of Thursday, November 29 welcomed guest of honour, Lincoln City Football Club Chief Executive Liam Scully along with sponsors, college leaders, award winners and their friends and families.
Hosted by BBC Radio Lincolnshire presenter Carla Greene, the annual event recognised the growth of the college in Lincolnshire and overseas and thanked hardworking team members.
Liam Scully, CEO of Lincoln City Football Club. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Guest of honour Liam Scully said: “A huge congratulations to all the award winners – being sat in the audience and getting to hear all these stories is a real privilege and honour.
“Lincoln College pride themselves on being employer-led and at Lincoln City we feel the benefit of that through our partnership with them.
“My challenge to you as students, having been in your position, is around enhancing your tool box and skill set – there’s nothing wrong with not knowing what you want to do now.
“You have a huge amount of time and opportunity ahead of you before you have to make those decisions – life is about taking your experiences and making the most of them and this happens through education.”
Lincoln College Group CEO Gary Headland. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Lincoln College Group CEO Gary Headland said: “Last night was all about celebrating our students and staff. I was immensely proud of their achievements.
“We heard some amazing stories of our staff nurturing students to boost their confidence and develop their skills.
“Many have already progressed to the next level of their studies, or secured really good jobs locally that will lead to extremely rewarding careers.
“Thank you to Liam Scully for attending as our guest of honour. His words advice to our students about having a ‘laser-focus’ on achieving their goals was really inspirational.
“Thank you also to all of the local businesses who sponsored our awards. Your continued support is really appreciated and spurs us on in our mission; to be employer-led, building a highly skilled and productive local workforce.”
The winners:
Apprentice of the Year Cole Sims Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Cole had very little experience of formal education when he arrived at college.
He found it very difficult to adapt at first, but with a little support and nurturing, developed into an apprentice with a thirst for knowledge.
His growth in confidence and self-motivation has been staggering and his dedication to his plumbing apprenticeship is to be admired.
16 to 18 Student of the year: Jamie Yarnell. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Jamie is someone who struggled at school but has absolutely thrived at college. His has found his place in the world through performance.
Jamie’s confidence has blossomed and his ability to cope with and overcome his personal difficulties is inspirational.
He has a very bright future ahead of him and if his talent continues to develop you may well see him again on screen or stage.
Over 19 Student of the Year: Ryan Morris. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Ryan is one of the highest achievers our automotive department has seen in many years.
His blinkered focus on developing his skills, entering competitions and pushing himself to learn more and more has put him at the top of his game.
He has gone from being a level one learner right though to HNC with the college and then scooped one of the most enviable jobs in the trade, working for AMG Mercedes’ Formula One Division.
Ryan represents what this college is about, giving people a chance and them supporting them to the best career they can get.
Entrepreneurial achievement: Sophia Fox-Bonus Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
This award recognises students who have started their own business venture whilst still studying at college.
Being a student is not easy, being a student and needing a part-time job to support yourself is not easy, but to do all that and then deciding to set up your own business definitely deserves recognition.
Sophia has worked tirelessly to build up a client base as a self-employed hairdresser.
Hiring a chair at Village Hair and using social media to show off her skills and build a brand around her ability, she has grown a small business that has real potential.
She has displayed all of the attributes required for entrepreneurial success; drive, ambition, determination and lots of hard work.
Industry Collaboration: Josh Hudson. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Josh came to the College in September 2016 on a level 3 IT course, since when he has progressed steadily through 19 units of study over a diverse range of topics.
Last year he was amongst nine students who successfully interviewed for the college partnership scheme at Team Knowhow in Newark and saw a future with them; succeeding in gaining a full apprenticeship this year; one of only three offered such a place.
His journey shows how any student can develop skills for the workplace and move on to a fulfilling and promising career.
Platinum Award winners were Dominic Wade, Abigail Jones, Charlotte Ryan, Leah Rogers, James Bembridge, Philip Cartledge-Smith, Alan Fletcher, Jerome Fountain, Matthew Johnson, Bethany Povey, Ashante Wilson, Magan Drewery and Jordan Eley. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Extraordinary Achievement Foundation Learning & Community Education James Bembridge. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Extraordinary Achievement Service Sector Student Cate Gilbert. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Extraordinary Achievement International and ESOL Student Galina Svetlova. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Extraordinary Commitment to Sport & Education Phoebe Taylor. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Extraordinary Achievement Maths & English Student Edward Funnell. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Extraordinary Achievement: Sports Performance Katie Wells. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Extraordinary Achievement Engineering and Technology Apprentice Liam Horsley. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Extraordinary Achievement Engineering and Technology Student Ryan Morris. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Extraordinary Achievement Business & Education Apprentice Demi Scott. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Extraordinary Achievement Care Service Student Luwam Tsegay. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Extraordinary Achievement Career College Student Abigail Britt-Wood. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Rising Star Accolade Career College Student Jacob Osbourne. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Extraordinary Achievement Construction Apprentice Cole Sims. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Lincoln College Group CEO Gary Headland. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Carla Greene. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Staff awards
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
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The 2024 Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards are now open for nominations, seeking to spotlight outstanding businesses within the Greater Lincolnshire area.
Hosted by Stonebow Media, the publisher behind The Lincolnite and the MyLocal platform, this prestigious event is designed to honour the achievements of the regional business community.
Thanks to the headline sponsorship from the University of Lincoln Enterprise & Research department, the Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards are a unique opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of local enterprises.
The awards are also sponsored by Ringrose Law, Duncan & Toplis, Sills & Betteridge and Pearson Hydraulics. A small number of sponsorship opportunities remain available. Contact [email protected] to discuss partnerships.
Businesses can nominate themselves across eleven awards categories:
The deadline for nominations is May 24, with the judges’ deliberation lunch set for May 29.The judging panel includes business experts and professionals from Lincolnshire and event sponsors.
The Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards 2024 gala will take place at the Engine Shed on July 12, 2024.
Enhance profile & credibility: Securing an award or being shortlisted acts as a powerful endorsement, signaling trustworthiness to potential customers and helping to distinguish your business from competitors. Displaying the award on your communications can significantly boost your brand’s perception.
Insightful focus & feedback: The application process encourages deep reflection on your business strategy and direction, offering invaluable feedback and clarity, even for new ventures.
Team confidence boost: Recognition from the awards can significantly uplift your team’s morale, affirming the value and potential of your business in the eyes of industry experts.
Marketing & PR boost: Being associated with the awards, even as a nominee, can enhance brand visibility, providing ample content opportunities for social media and other marketing channels.
Networking opportunities: The awards connect you with local business leaders and experts, offering a platform to seek advice, share ideas, and foster future partnerships. The ceremony itself is an excellent occasion for networking with peers and celebrating mutual successes.
Potential to win: Entering offers a chance to win and gain all the associated benefits, but even without taking home a trophy, the process can yield significant advantages for your business.
A Lady Gaga loving kitten owned by a couple who run a charity for disabled pets featured on Channel 5’s The Pet Psychic.
Pet Psychic Beth Lee-Crowther comes to the aid of pet owners and in Tuesday night’s episode she met Cookie the kitten, a depressed camel, and looked at whether a dog can predict the future.