The innovative career guidance career programme has transformed how Waltham Forest College prepare learners for the job market through a strategic blend of targeted support, industry partnerships, and curriculum alignment. Funded primarily through their Learner Services budget. This career programme provides a comprehensive career development program that is aspirational. A cornerstone of their approach is the termly Industry Breakfast Collaboration events, which feature over 30 employers per session. These events offer personalised career advice, mentorship, and hands-on experience, equipping learners with essential employability skills required in their future careers. Their sector-specific workshops and webinars further enhance these skills, both online and in person. In June 2024, they held a SEND Job Fair in collaboration with Local London Careers Hub East, engaging over 140 SEND students from local schools and offering tailored career support to meet their unique needs. Their participation in key national events, including Careers Week and National Apprenticeship Week, highlights their commitment to inclusivity and industry relevance. The impact has been substantial: 96% of their learners have been engaged, over 600 unemployed individuals from the local community had the opportunity to access job placements and interviews through our events, and overall career readiness has significantly improved. This project exemplifies their leadership in career education and dedication to providing meaningful, sustainable career opportunities for all learners.

To find out more about this year's awards and how to apply, please visit: https://www.aoc.co.uk/awards/beacon-awards/beacon-awards-2025-26

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The college’s ESOL provision has been developed through partnership working with the Royal Shakespeare Company, to include learning and development structured around Shakespeare’s works. This has been in place now for 7 years, and continues to grow in terms of opportunities, engagement and impact. Last academic year there were 235 learners engaged with the project at various levels, but the impact is wider-reaching. ESOL learners have learnt about plays, performance and language, and this has been the underpinning theme for their English language development. As well as language skills learners have learned about themselves, their new community and English heritage in a positive and engaging way that instils pride and a sense of kudos. They have developed confidence, improved their mental health, often after significant trauma, and become empowered by their new found skills. This positive impact has been spread widely across the college through tutorial engagement which positively raises awareness of the issues facing young immigrants and asylum seekers, as well as awareness of the power of Shakespeare and the theatre. The programme is progressive over their learning journey, but includes learning about performance and technical production, dance, costume, history and culture. The pinnacle of the project is the college’s ESOL Shakespeare production, which in 2023/4 was Romeo and Juliet. 37 learners performed in the final production.

To find out more about this year's awards and how to apply, please visit: https://www.aoc.co.uk/awards/beacon-awards/beacon-awards-2025-26

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The College “Industry Partners – Workforce of Tomorrow” programme began as strategic employer engagement within the apprenticeship provision, developing into the bedrock of curriculum design across the College Group, embedded into the annual planning cycle. Positioning the College as a strategic talent partner for local businesses, aligned with the Local Skills Improvement Plan. Innovative because: Employers understand their role in The College Strategic and Continuous Curriculum Cycle provides curriculum planning with employers at its heart, ensuring high quality employer engagement is interwoven into the fabric of the College delivery. -A range of planned interventions at scale across all disciplines. -Weaving innovation in the workplace into College delivery. Impact is recorded, evaluated, tested, revised and drives further development. Delivers the “Workforce of Tomorrow” talent pool. -Employer Curriculum Boards with Industry Partners -Shaping Curriculum with Industry Partners Survey Audit of staff workforce - dual professionals. -Analysis of destination data -Industry placements (designated day 7th July) to build relationships and gather intel -Skills and Work Board meetings – (Connections, JCP, CVS, University, Council, College, Employers) Members of local provider network Advisory Board. -In person discussions with Chamber of Commerce/Employment and Skills Advisory Panel (ESAP)/Local Authority -Curriculum Review and Planning meetings -Governor oversight and inclusion of their industry knowledge Employer relationships have developed to inform, innovate and co-design curriculum to provide a talent pool of learners able to progress into work, tackling skills shortages.

To find out more about this year's awards and how to apply, please visit: https://www.aoc.co.uk/awards/beacon-awards/beacon-awards-2025-26

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