On Thursday 25 June, Pearson celebrated the tenth anniversary of their National BTEC Awards online, announcing Coleg Gwent learner, Georgia Kenvin from the Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone, as winner of the prestigious bronze award for Uniformed Public Services.
Georgia, aged 20, from Tredegar – South Wales, was recognised by teachers and peers for succeeding in her career ambition of joining the police force by demonstrating her passion, tenacity and willingness to learn during her time on the Uniformed Public Service course.
In response to her exceptional achievement, Georgia commented: “I’ve loved the past two years of the course. It has introduced me to new perspectives and developed my self-confidence by taking part in activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award. I’m now looking forward to starting my police apprenticeship and hopefully inspiring others to apply for the career of their choice.”
A poll by Pearson found that two-thirds of medium-sized businesses have hired BTEC graduates in the last five years, and nearly a quarter of learners going to university do so with a BTEC. Coleg Gwent understands that many employers and young people want to keep their options open and gain the blend of valuable academic, practical and transferable skills that vocational qualifications offer.
As a joint top performing Welsh college for vocational learning, Coleg Gwent offers a range of BTEC qualifications, from bricklaying and vehicle mechanics, to health and social care. Working closely with local employers, the college equips thousands of learners with the knowledge and practical skills that employers need, supporting progression and career aspirations.
David Key, course lead and personal tutor, commented on Georgia’s success: “We’re all hugely proud of everything Georgia has achieved here at Coleg Gwent, and it’s so inspiring to see how much she gets out of all of her hard work and how generous she is in offering help to her peers. We look forward to seeing Georgia succeed in her new career in the police service.”
The 2020 BTEC Awards comprised of 17 categories and was hosted by presenter of the United Stand, YouTube influencer and BTEC Ambassador, Flex. Awards were presented by Double Olympic Gold medalist Max Whitlock, as well as actress and former BTEC Drama student at The BRIT School, Kellie Shirley. The expert panel of judges made up of Pearson’s senior leadership team, journalists and external experts, carefully considered the nominees before deciding on the winners.
Cindy Rampersaud, Senior Vice President BTEC and Apprenticeship at Pearson, said: “This year I’ve been over-whelmed by the quality of BTEC Award nominations we received and I am delighted to celebrate this year’s winners and the achievements of all learners who will be awarded a BTEC. Over the past few weeks and months, we’ve seen how the current pandemic has highlighted the critical role of key workers and individuals who are likely to have followed a vocational educational pathway such as BTEC.”
