TEC Partnership wins three prestigious Educate North awards

We are celebrating after winning three Educate North awards!

Estuary Student TV, a student-run production company which has worked with organisations such as Discover NEL and Grimsby Town Football Club, won the Innovation Award, while Associate Principal Emma Forrest-Leigh received a highly commended award for UK Leadership.

National Employer Training (NET), which forms part of The TEC Partnership, formerly Grimsby Institute Group, also won the Employee Engagement Award for the HE and FE sector.

Emma said she was “absolutely overwhelmed” to collect two awards, which she described as “picking up on behalf of the team”.

“I just didn’t expect it at all, but it’s certainly not just for me. These awards were won by the team and I just collected them on their behalf.

“I think I work with some of the best people in the UK in my judgement, so it’s really difficult not to be impactful when you’re working with such an amazing team.

Highlighting new courses starting in September, featuring human scale prop making, drone flight, aerial hoop stage flight and fashion, Emma continued: “As a manager, I always remember why I’m doing this and never lose sight of why I wanted to be in this role, which is to help students.

“It’s all about making sure we’re doing things the students want, being current and asking the students to critique what we do.

“I feel really lucky to be working at the Grimsby Institute. It’s like a sky of stars; students and staff are on a completely equal playing field which leads to awards like this.”

Creative student Michelle Ward (38), who is studying Level 4 FdA in Performing Arts, said: “When I started on Level 2, I never thought I would be progressing through to Levels 4 and 5.

“It is because of the support and professionalism of the amazing team at the Grimsby Institute that I have managed to complete an abundance of achievements, both academically and personally.

“It is a real honour to be part of an outstanding college. Why not be a student here, when you have the expertise of a leadership team who will take you to heights unimaginable!”

Executive Director of NET, Steve Hepworth, said: “It was an absolute privilege to represent and collect the award for Employer Engagement for the FE/HE Sector for the NET team last week at the Educate North awards.

“This award highlights the outstanding level of service the NET team have provided to all learners, employers and key stakeholders across the diverse range of funded projects the team work across on a day-to-day basis.

“The NET project has substantially grown to be a national provider since it was introduced nearly two years ago and this is purely down to the hard work, commitment and dedication from every single staff member. This award recognises this for the team. I am incredibly proud to lead such an excellent team.”