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Aspiration Awards 2025
Behind every success, there is aspiration
Our Aspiration Awards are about honouring the success of learners, apprentices, educators, support staff and educational organisations across the UK.
We believe that there isn’t just one definition of success. Throughout our 175 years in this sector, we've seen it in many forms – from going above and beyond to exceed expectations, to overcoming obstacles to achieve the unexpected, to finding new and innovative ways of working to help others achieve.
Whatever success looks like to you, we want your help to recognise those doing exceptional things in education.
Terms and conditions
Announcing our finalists
We'd like to congratulate all our finalists for the Aspiration Awards 2025! You'll find the shortlists in full below:
Against All Odds
Anya Clair, City of Wolverhampton College
Ben Keith, Bishop Auckland College
Carri Reynolds, Race Ahead
Dave Leatham, Northern College
Libby Smith, Aced Qualifications Ltd
Maddie Davies, Coleg Sir Gar
Mason Jackson, East Coast College
Mollie Monaghan, St Helens College
Sabia Parveen, Sandwell Adult and Family Learning Service
Sameeha Kapadia, Gateway College
Theresa Jackson, Nescot College
Apprentice of the Year
Carly Tait, Learning Curve Group
Elicia Swaine, Burnley College
Finley Eades, Strode College
Freya Adams, Leeds City College
Macy Cowell, Learning Curve Group
Natalie Panasiuk, Access Skills Ltd
Natasha Warren, Burnley College
Rachael Grenney, Achievement Training
Sarah New, Gloucestershire College
Zoe Field, Race Ahead
Centre of the Year
Burnley College
Burntwood School
Education Partnership North East
Game Academy
Haywards Heath College, Chichester College Group
Kiwi & Yuzu
Newcastle United Foundation
Orangebox Training Solutions
The Melton Learning Hub
The School of Public Services at Leeds City College (Luminate Education)
Educator of the Year
Caroline Kerr, Southern Regional College
Jonathan Stone, Cornwall College Group
Kelly Dace, Access Skills Ltd.
Louise Turnbull, Burnley College
Michelle Cray, Hull College
Paul Yates, Northern College for Adults
Rachel Briggs, Worcester Sixth Form College
Rob Kirk, Coleg Sir Gar
Sharon Stephenson, Colchester Institute
Sophie Limb, GrimsbyTec
Learner of the Year
Abigail Clemens, Truro and Penwith College
Dextra Rebelo, New College Swindon
Isabelle Fazackerley, Shipley College
Jessica Nichols, Midkent College
Laura Lockhart, Northern Regional College
Luca Trevena, Aced Qualifications Ltd
Madison Jenkins, Aced Qualifications Ltd
Molly Uju Ukadike, Access Skills Ltd
Monuwara Bibi, Oldham Lifelong Learning - Oldham Council
Scarlett Leek, East Norfolk Sixth Form College
Support Staff of the Year
Andrew Firth, Leeds City College
Charlie Watts, USP College
Charlotte Binks, Leeds City College
David Greenway, Hull College
Diana Brown, United Colleges Group
Diane Watson, New College Durham
Emma Masters, North Hertfordshire College
Katherine Oglesby, Access Skills Ltd
Matthew Ward, Exeter College
Shelagh Findon, Southern Regional College
Our CACHE Outstanding Achievement finalists:
Emma Clegg, Darlington College
Jo Fourmy, North Hertfordshire College
Louise Turnbull, Burnley College
Luca Filmer, Access Skills Ltd
Sara Louise Gilpin, Southern Regional College
Tirenioluwa Awe, NWSLC
Celebrating our 2024 winners
It was incredibly hard for our judges to choose our winners this year, as we received nominations from so many inspiring learners, educators and centres. You can learn more about our Learner of the Year, Apprentice of the Year and our Against All Odds winner by clicking on their images below, or discover our full list of 2024 winners here.
Learner of the Year: Matthew McGrotty
Apprentice of the Year: Ellie Burke
Against All Odds winner: Michael Serco
Celebrating our 2023 winners
In 2023, we received a record-breaking number of nominations in our Aspiration Awards. You can learn more about our Learner of the Year, Apprentice of the Year and our Against All Odds winner by clicking on their images, or discover our full list of 2023 winners by clicking here or watching the video below.
Meet our 2023 Aspiration Award winners!
Our Aspiration Awards are about honouring the success of learners, apprentices, educators, support staff and educational organisations across the UK. Take a look back at all our winners from 2023 in this video.
Learner of the Year: Harry Disney
Apprentice of the Year: Christopher Ademola
Against All Odds winner: Gabriella Fox
