Friday, 27 November 2009 16:13 A photojournalism lecturer, a union learning rep and a college vice principal were among winners celebrating at the sixth annual LSIS STAR Awards bash in London yesterday.

Often called the Oscars of the learning and skills sector, the awards recognise those making a real difference to the skill levels of young people and adult learners on a daily basis.

"The STAR Awards are a celebration of the hard working individuals who use their skills to improve provision across the sector," said Dr David Collins, chief executive of LSIS, which works to accelerate the drive for excellence in the sector.

"I am especially pleased that this year nominations came from all parts of our wide and diverse sector, including colleges, work-based and adult and community learning providers as well as offender institutions. I am also pleased that the judges found the standard and quality of the nominations higher than ever."

The 11 award winners are:

Teaching, training and learning practitioner – peer nomination
Manjit Johal, team leader, Sandwell College

Teaching, training and learning practitioner – learner nomination
Neil Maclean, teacher, JHP Training, Birmingham

Response to learners' needs
Regional Centre for Learners with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (team), City College Norwich

Workforce development
Kevin Maddeys, union learning rep/NVQ assessor, First Group Bus Depot, Great Yarmouth

Learning support
Billy Courtney, specialist tutor, Newcastle College

Innovation
Sarah Snowdon, manager of OLASS contract, The Isle of Wight College

Skills for Life
Maggie Harnew, Skills for Life lecturer, Abingdon and Witney College

Engaging employers
Terence Anslow, contracts manager, Telford College of Arts and Technology

Support role
Gerrard Shaw, senior IT technician, Redbridge Institute of Adult Education

Leadership
Kanwal Patter, vice principal – Skills for Life and community cohesion, The Working Men’s College

Lifetime achievement
Paul Delmar, lecturer, photojournalism, Norton College, part of The Sheffield College

Kevin Brennan, Minister for Further Education, said: "The FE sector is vital to improving people's job prospects, helping employers to raise skills in their workforce and allowing people to strengthen their communities through shared involvement.

"In this economic climate you are all making a big difference to people's lives at this time. These awards give us the opportunity to recognise the finest in this vastly diverse and highly dynamic sector.

"The judges told us that the standard of nominations has been extremely high this year and they were overwhelmed at the commitment, sheer determination and passion shown by the nominees, sometimes against all the odds."

(Pictured: LSIS STAR Award winner Manjit Johal)