STAFF at Wiltshire College & University Centre gathered for their annual Staff Awards event – a chance to reflect on the 2024-25 academic year and celebrate the hard work and dedication of staff across the College.
Held at the College’s Lackham campus, more than 850 professional and curriculum staff took part in a review of performance and progress as part of their annual self-assessment process, followed by an awards ceremony and delicious lunch.
In the run-up to the event, staff submitted more than 150 peer nominations across four categories – Outstanding Teaching, Student Experience, College Community and Team of the Year. A judging panel selected 22 winners for their exceptional contributions.
Principal & CEO, Iain Hatt, presented the awards and said: “This year, we’ve seen many impressive projects, examples of community engagement, fundraising, and positive contributions to our college community.
“Staff have played a key role in supporting events and activities across all campuses and I’m genuinely grateful to everyone who has contributed to the success of the college.”
Winning an award for Student Experience, John Bolton, IT Desktop Engineer, said: “I’m very grateful for the recognition and it’s lovely to accept this award. We were able to get a first-hand look at the problems and difficulties students were facing by sitting in and experiencing it ourselves. The results meant that we could make changes relevant for them and have a positive impact on both teaching and learning in the classroom.”
Another winner on the day, Oonagh Cameron-Clist, Lecturer in Early Years Care and Education, was recognised for Outstanding Teaching. She said: “I’m not someone who likes the spotlight – but it’s also really nice, because I know the nomination came from my team. It means a lot to be recognised by the people I work alongside every day.”
Key achievements over the last year were also highlighted during the ceremony, including:
- 128,800 hours of industry placement and work experience completed – equivalent to 17,405 working days.
- Over 3,000 prospective students attended open days, taster sessions, and experience events – nearly 300 more than last year.
- 16-19 applications have increased for the second consecutive year.
- Almost 5,000 visitors attended lambing events at Lackham.
- The College achieved an Ofsted ‘Good’ rating for its residential accommodation at Lackham.
Students also secured exciting opportunities for their futures, with many gaining national recognition, international placements, and industry awards – a real testament to the dedication of the College’s teaching and professional staff.
You can view the full list of winners below.
Awards for Outstanding Teaching
- Duncan Peel -Engineering
- Alex Edwards -Construction
- Keileigh Thomas – Beauty
- Kat Vulakovaki – English & Maths
- Helen Twiss – English & Maths
- Chelsea Bryar – Animal Care
- Oonagh Cameron-Clist – Early Years
Awards for Student Experience
- Victoria Powell – Careers
- Karen Laing – Academic Support Coach
- Nicola Hughes – Pathways
- Louise Phillips – Work Placement Coordinator
- Rhian Ramsden – Quality & Innovation
- Jeremy Duck – BIS Trainer/Assessor
- John Bolton – IT
- Ethan Walsh – Motorsport, Race Engineer
Awards for College Community
- Nigel Drake – Construction (Painting & Decorator Assessor)
- Sarah Spurlock – Finance
- Samuel Zelley – Estates
- Maria Webber – HR
- Josh Adcock-Coombs – Construction (Plumbing Assessor)
- Jaycie Hillier – Faculty Admin Engineering, Automotive and Motorsport
Team of the Year
- Admissions
Photography by Freia Turland.
Want to join our team at WCUC?
There has never been a better time to join Wiltshire College & University Centre. Whether you’re experienced in teaching, looking to start a new career in education, or wanting to join one of our amazing Professional Services teams, we’re always looking for passionate, talented people. Find out more about our open vacancies on the link below.
