Guidance notes and eligibility criteria
We’re looking for provision that has had a transformational impact on learners. The provision should be funded through the Adult Education Budget in the West Midlands, and can also include Construction Gateway, Bootcamps and Free Courses for Jobs. Specifically, this includes supporting learners to increase their skills, ability and confidence including providing routes to employment or other learning opportunities which may not have been possible previously. We want to recognise that learning doesn’t just stay in the classroom. We are also looking for provision that motivates people to take up learning, especially those who may lack the confidence to do so.
Outstanding learning provision will have:
-
Provided families or communities with opportunities to learn together.
-
Provided clear learning progression routes or contributed to motivational learning journeys.
-
Demonstrated how the learning has helped improve/change learners’ lives and the lives of their families, friends, colleagues or the community.
-
Supported individuals to improve their skills for employability and professional development, or to progress in their career or retrain for new job roles or new responsibilities within existing job roles.
-
Used outstanding creativity and innovation or have worked in partnership to significantly benefit those participating in the project.
-
Demonstrated success in engaging those families and communities who are furthest away from learning and employment, and which shows clear individual and community-wide benefits.
-
Illustrated the transformational power of learning in relation to learning as a family, in a community environment or in relation to work.
-
Provided evidence of how the learning has made a difference to learners’ experiences, opening up other opportunities and impacting on those around them.
-
Made a very strong case for devolution of learning and skills funding.
Innovative Delivery award
The winner of this award needs to showcase outstanding creativity and innovation in the delivery of provision funded through the Adult Education Budget in the West Midlands, including Construction Gateway, Bootcamps and Free Courses for Jobs. They should be able to demonstrate successful and impactful outcomes for learners and their organisations, as well as impacts on wider society and economy.
Successful Partnership award
We are looking for funded organisations that have either worked with, or are currently working with, a partner to successfully deliver inclusive, impactful and demonstrably effective provision. We are particularly interested in cross-sector partnerships, for example with health or employment support services. The partnership needs to benefit both organisations, demonstrate clear outcomes and should be inspiring and be easily replicated by other organisations. The provision should be funded through the Adult Education Budget in the West Midlands, which can include Construction Gateway, Bootcamps and Free Courses for Jobs.
Engaging Adults in Learning award
This award is for outstanding commitment to helping individuals in the West Midlands to gain the skills and support that they need for life, work or to access good work. The winner should be able to provide evidence of how they have effectively engaged adults furthest away from the provision, and how the learning has made a difference to learners’ experiences, opening up other opportunities and impacting those around them.
Community Learning Provider of the Year award
This award is for providers delivering outstanding Community Learning provision funded through the Adult Education Budget. The winner should be able to demonstrate how they effectively support adults who are taking their first step into learning or who are returning to learning after many years. Nominees should outline the impact they have made to the local community, for example increase in civic engagement, increase of volunteer pool in the area, increase participation in local communities/from groups of learners who are very hard to reach and are underrepresented in adult learning.
Learning provider eligibility criteria
-
Nominations are open to learning provision based in the West Midlands where at least two months of the learning activity has taken place between 1 January 2022 and 1 February 2023.
-
The provision must be funded through the Adult Education Budget, and can also include Construction Gateway, Bootcamps and Free Courses for Jobs.
-
A learner’s statement must be included in the nomination of the provision.
-
There is no limit to the number of nominations that one nominator can make. However, nominations for one nominee from multiple nominators are not accepted.
-
Nominations for provision that has been nominated in previous years, or provision that has won awards as part of other award initiatives, will be accepted.
-
Nominations must be authorised by a relevant senior manager before submission.