A Year to Remember: Celebrating an Incredible Year Across Loughborough College Group

From opening landmark new facilities and winning national awards to raising thousands for charity and celebrating student success, the past academic year has been one to remember across Loughborough College Group.

Here's a look back at some of the moments that defined 2025–26.

Celebrating Student Success
In September, hundreds of higher education students proudly crossed the stage at two joyful Graduation ceremonies at Loughborough Town Hall and Brooksby Hall to celebrate the culmination of years of hard work. More recently, Further Education students across the College Group were recognised at this year’s end-of-year awards ceremonies for their determination, resilience, and achievements.

The quality of our higher education provision was also recognised nationally, with degree programmes achieving results above sector benchmarks in the National Student Survey.

Building for the Future
Our Loughborough College site welcomed three major milestones to the campus this year, including the official opening of the East Midlands Institute of Technology, creating an inspiring new home for advanced STEM learning, and helping develop the skills that employers across the region need most.

Further innovation continued with the opening of our new Digital Skills Hub, providing cutting-edge digital facilities for students and local people, and the launch of our brand-new Sports Centre. Designed to support aspiring athletes, the impressive new facility is already helping more students than ever before to train, compete, and reach their potential.

Looking beyond Loughborough, work has continued on two exciting new developments at Brooksby College – a new welcome centre, library, and study area, and our state-of-the-art Agri-Tech Centre, creating fresh opportunities for collaboration and hands-on learning.

Sporting Success
It has been another outstanding year for students both on and off the field. In April, our Sports Academies once again demonstrated an array of exceptional performances in the Association of College’s national championships, taking home gold, silver, and bronze medals across a range of sports.

For our Stephenson College based Motorsport department, students and staff celebrated an incredible National Rallycross Championship title, as lecturer Alex Fletcher earnt a second consecutive win in the tournament, driving a car built and maintained by students on the course.

Most recently, our talented students and alumni continued to make their mark on the international stage, with several setting their sights on Commonwealth Games success. With the Games fully in swing, the Loughborough College Group athletes have already claimed a staggering 13 medals, including Gold from swimmer Will Ellard and parasport athlete Sophie Hahn.

Making a Difference Beyond the Classroom
As founding members of the Good for Me, Good for FE campaign, some of this year's proudest moments happened in our communities.

In December, three staff members were celebrated for their dedication to community and charity outreach at this year’s Good for Me, Good for FE Awards in London, with a win in the Fundraiser of the Year category for A Level lecturer James Shields and commendations for Curriculum Head of Sport Danny Lee, and Contracts and Governance Officer, Lisa Whait. 

The sense of community spirit continued throughout the year as Sports students and staff came together to raise thousands of pounds for charities close to their hearts, smashing previous records at the annual 24-Hour Sportathon, raising an incredible £6,323 in memory of a local student.

Public Services students also exceeded their fundraising targets for local children’s hospice charity, Rainbows, while colleagues and learners from across all four campuses raised more than £1,000 for neonatal and heart charities in honour of April’s National Heart Month. 

Recognising Excellence
Achievements deserve to be celebrated, and there were plenty to celebrate this year.

Our annual Apprenticeship Awards, held at Stephenson College, honoured apprentices, employers, and training partners whose dedication is helping shape the workforce of the future. Awards included Apprentice of the Year, Employer of the Year, and Mentor of the Year. 

Further recognition was earnt for both students and staff. Construction apprentices enjoyed success at the prestigious Archies Awards, while colleagues from across the organisation were celebrated through our own annual end of year staff awards ceremony.

Continuing the theme of showcasing excellence, our Melton based IGNITE Performing Arts academy capped off a fantastic year with their truly excellent Final Major Projects: Billy Elliot, Pride and Prejudice and Sister Act, with Degree students performing Ocean at the End of the Lane and Passage.

Embracing Heritage and the Future
In a fantastic celebration, Brooksby College welcomed generations of former students, staff, and alumni back to campus as it marked its 75th anniversary, celebrating decades of land-based education and lifelong connections whilst also unveiling new plans for the future of the site.

In June, hundreds of visitors joined us for Open Farm Sunday, enjoying the chance to explore the campus, meet the animals and discover more about modern farming and food production in association with non-profit organisation, LEAF (Linking Education and Farming).

Just down the road, Loughborough College’s Radmoor Nursery celebrated 30 years of providing exceptional early years education and childcare, while Brooksby Agriculture students continued to impress judges at livestock shows across the country.

Creating Opportunities for Everyone
Finally this year, the College Group was awarded a prestigious Investors in Diversity – Gold Accreditation by the National Centre for Diversity, recognising our ongoing commitment to equality, inclusion and creating opportunities for every student and member of staff.

As another academic year comes to a close, there's so much to be proud of. We can't wait to see what the next one brings!