The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, today celebrated the incredible achievements of Londoners, employers and training providers at City Hall’s inaugural Adult Learning Awards.
The ceremony celebrated adult learning in the capital across nine award categories including Inspirational Adult Learner of the Year and Inclusive Provider of Adult Education. The awards demonstrate the Mayor’s commitment to championing the capital’s skills sector and raising awareness of training opportunities for Londoners.
The Mayor of London Learning Awards have been delivered with the support of our sponsors: Ascentis the Awarding Organisation and FE Week.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The first Adult Learning Awards highlighted the fantastic achievements of Londoners, as well as the excellent contributions employers and training organisations in the capital make to adult education.
“As the cost of living continues to rise, it is more important than ever to ensure that Londoners are able to gain the skills they need to move into better jobs.
“Since taking over responsibility for London’s Adult Education Budget in 2019, I’ve expanded the adult learning provision to ensure it is the most accessible adult education offer in the country.
“High quality adult learning is key to supporting Londoners to thrive and building a better, fairer and more prosperous London for everyone.”
Notes to editors
The inaugural Adult Learning Awards took place at City Hall on Wednesday 5 October.
The full list of winners are:
Inspirational Adult Learner of the Year
Winner: Shirley Joseph
Aged 59, Shirley was made redundant after 40 years working in the travel industry. She completed a NVQ qualification in track engineering at Newham College and is now working for the Network Vegetation Team, part of Transport for London.
Learning for Good Work
Winner: Ghazal Mottaghi
Ghazal is a video content creator and social media manager with a visual impairment. Her digital marketing skills in were advanced following training with her employer - Pink Tea Café - in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Learning for Personal Progression
Winner: Fatima Zahra
Fatima’s first language is Pakistani Sign Language. She has studied courses in British Sign Language, English and Digital skills at City Lit for deaf learners to support her children and to pursue her lifelong ambition of becoming an art teacher.
Distinguished Provider of Adult Education
Winner: St Giles Trust
St Giles Trust supports people affected by poverty, exploitation, addiction and mental health problems access support, advice and training. St Giles is a City & Guilds Assessment Centre, with its own Internal Quality Assurance staff and qualified trainer assessors. The London Hub is accredited with Matrix and works to OFSTED standards.
Inclusive Provider of Adult Education
Winner: Centre for Learning Disabilities Education at City Lit
The Centre offers a creative arts-based curriculum for adults with learning disabilities including students with autism, physical disabilities, moderate learning disabilities, and a wide range of cognitive impairments.
Inspirational Tutor or Member of Staff in Adult Education
Winner: Sarbdip Noonan - Principal of Stanmore College
Sarbdip’s professional career covers the full span of 11 years to Adult education and training, encompassing both the School and Further Education (FE) sectors, along with working as a Local Authority Officer for Essex County Council. Sarbdip has worked hard to turn around Stanmore College. In 2016 after the college received an Inadequate OFSTED report, in just over a year Sarbdip implemented changes which saw the OFSTED ratings increase by two grades to Good. Sarbdip has become a role model within the further education sector.
Employer of the Year for Adult Learning
Winner: Greggs (In partnership with Lewisham College)
Greggs is a leading UK bakery retailer, with over 1,800 shops nationwide. Greggs has been working in partnership with Lewisham College for the past four years to create the Greggs Team Leader Sector-Based Work Academy Programme and has offered over 50 learners jobs with Greggs including roles such as Team Leader and Shift Supervisor.
Apprenticeship Employer of the Year
Winner: London Ambulance Service NHS Trust (LAS)
London Ambulance Service (LAS) provides ambulance and emergency medical services to patients across the capital, covering an area of c.620 square miles. LAS has more than 8,000 people either working or volunteering with them regularly.
LAS launched a paramedic apprenticeship programme in 2020, designed to make it easier to gain a degree in paramedicine. LAS has been ranked 1st amongst NHS Trusts in London for exceeding the Public Sector Apprenticeship starts target. In the last year, they reached a milestone of 1000 apprentice starts since the reforms and introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy in 2017.
Outreach and Engagement of Adults into Learning
Winner: GRoW, Belina Consulting Ltd
Belina's GRoW programme supports women with complex needs who are far from the labour market to get back to work, education and training. They also run intensive confidence-building, motivation and employability sessions for parents.