Loughborough College has been shortlisted for an award which recognises business partnerships that help students flourish.
The college is a finalist in the East Midlands Chamber Business Awards, Leicestershire Education and Business Partnerships category.
Judges shortlisted Loughborough College for its achievements in supporting more than 1,500 learners into work through its apprenticeship and employability programme which is rated as Outstanding by Oftsed.
Judges will now invite the college to pitch their achievements and convince a panel of business leaders why they should win.
Paula Allerton, Head of Employer Engagement & Apprenticeships at Loughborough College, said: “We’re delighted to be shortlisted and for the hard work of our learners and staff to be recognised.
“Our apprenticeship programmes help students unlock their passions and shape their future careers with wonderful support from so many businesses around the country who want to help our learners to achieve success.”
Among its successes in the last academic year, the college worked with employers throughout the country to secure 60,000 work placement hours for around 1,500 students.
This included space engineering students spending time with University of Leicester researchers to work on a new cutting-edge facility which will handle samples returned from Mars.
A total of 94% of students found employment within six months of leaving college while the college’s Supported Internship Programme helped ten times the national average of people with special educational needs get into employment.
The college also secured talks from Michelin Star chefs, beauty masterclasses from experts at Clarins while Public Service students received training from the Royal Navy.
More than 120 organisations from across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire have entered the annual Chamber awards which showcase enterprise success in the region.
Winners will be chosen by a judging panel and announced at ceremonies in November and December – depending on Covid-19 restrictions at that time.
Video features Engineering Apprentice Harrison Gamble in his placement at the University of Leicester