West Thames College is celebrating after being shortlisted for the prestigious Careers & Enterprise Company Award for Excellence in Careers and Enterprise at the 2025/26 Association of Colleges (AoC) Beacon Awards.
Although the College did not take home the top prize, we are immensely proud of the recognition received and of the outstanding work delivered by our Careers Team in supporting students to achieve their ambitions.
The AoC Beacon Awards are regarded as one of the most respected honours in the further education sector, celebrating innovation, impact and excellence across colleges in the UK. This year, nine colleges from across the country were named winners at a special event held in Westminster, showcasing the very best of further education.
David Hughes, Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges, praised the exceptional quality of entries this year:
“Every year I am blown away by the standard of the Beacon Award entries. They are tribute to the scale of innovation and expertise in further education colleges across the UK, and the impact they have in their regions. This year, it was harder than ever to decide on just one winner per category.
I want to say a huge congratulations to everyone who met the Beacon standard, and of course, to our winners. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to the communities you serve. I hope you enjoy the celebrations, you should be proud of the work you do and the impact you make on people's lives.”
Being nominated alongside some of the most innovative colleges in the country is a significant achievement for West Thames College. The Careers Team works tirelessly to provide high-quality information, advice and guidance, helping students progress into employment, apprenticeships and higher education.
The nomination reflects the College’s continued commitment to ensuring every student is equipped with the skills, knowledge and confidence to succeed in their chosen career path. While the award itself went elsewhere, the recognition reinforces West Thames College’s standing as a leader in careers and enterprise education.
