City of Bristol College has celebrated the dedication, creativity and outstanding contributions of its colleagues at its annual People Awards, with 690 nominations received across the college; more than double the number received last year.
The awards, held as part of the college’s Summerfest celebrations, recognise colleagues and teams who go above and beyond to support students, colleagues and the wider college community.
This year’s awards celebrated excellence across eight categories, with winners and highly commended nominees recognised for their contribution to student experience, customer service, innovation, teamwork and professional excellence.
The Enhancing the Student Experience Award was presented to Learning Support colleague Chris Lee, who was praised for being a “celebrity amongst the students” and a consistent champion of student needs. Liz Ellis-Hutchins and Leah Purnell were highly commended in the category.
Hannah Wallis received the Excellence in Customer Service Award, having been nominated three times for her outstanding work supporting the smooth running of exams. She was praised for consistently going the extra mile, troubleshooting questions with grace and patience and being a reliable and supportive colleague. Christopher Tucker, Robert Rowe and Shaun Griffin were highly commended.
The Innovation and Improvement Award went to Michael Crocker for creating new opportunities for students within the college’s digital and creative provision. Michael established a partnership with Arnolfini, connecting students with gallery professionals through portfolio review sessions and providing valuable insight into industry expectations, progression and employment. Daeton Harvey and Elizabeth Wilde were highly commended.
John Mavroudis was named the college’s Rising Star, recognised for his eagerness to learn and develop, his contribution to improving processes and his positive impact on the Finance team. Mary Trehearne and Ellie Gillis were highly commended.
The Team Excellence Award was presented jointly to the Exams and EAA Team, in recognition of their relentless work to ensure processes run smoothly during exam season and students are supported to achieve their individual potential. The Animal Care Team, Safeguarding Team, Facilities Team and Supported Internship Team were highly commended.
Tim Livingston received the Individual Excellence Award, recognised for remaining calm under pressure, supporting his team and consistently making time to care for colleagues despite the demands of his role. Issy Banks, Slavica Talbot, Phil Berryman, Lee Godwin, Patrick Lune, Alex Bosneaga and Colin Smith were highly commended.
The Student Voice Award, which recognises colleagues nominated directly by students, was awarded to Francesca Ferrari. Her nomination highlighted the life-changing impact of her support, with a student describing how she had helped them overcome years of anxiety, build confidence, form friendships and re-engage with education. Natasha Watkins, Jo Skirrow, Sam Wood, Ieva Tenisa and Ryan Fernandes were highly commended.
The final award, the Principal’s Recognise and Respect Award, was presented to Leah Goldberg for her dedication to students and colleagues. Leah was praised for always going the extra mile and taking a highly personalised approach to helping students flourish; from designing tailored lessons to supporting them to access new opportunities and practical support. Mandy Ball and Helena Fowler were highly commended.
The celebration also recognised colleagues who have reached 20 or more years of service at City of Bristol College, thanking them for their longstanding commitment and contribution to students, colleagues and the wider community.
All winners and highly commended colleagues, as well as everyone who was nominated, will receive a copy of their nomination in recognition of their contribution.
The People Awards formed part of the college’s Summerfest celebrations, which also included activities, food and live entertainment for colleagues to enjoy.
