AoC Beacon Awards Finalists 2026/27 announced

The 2026/27 Beacon award finalists were announced at the AoC’s Annual Conference and Exhibition in Birmingham this afternoon.

The AoC Award for Mental Health and Wellbeing

• Activate Learning  
• Waltham Forest College  
• West Suffolk College  

The Bell Foundation Award for Excellence in ESOL

• Cambridge Regional College
• Exeter College
• Waltham Forest College 

The Careers & Enterprise Company Award for Excellence in Careers and Enterprise

• Truro and Penwith College
• West Thames College
• Yeovil College 

The City & Guilds Award for College Engagement with Employers

• Heart of Worcestershire College
• Lakes College
• Trafford & Stockport College Group 

The Edge Award for Excellence in Real World Learning

• East Kent Colleges Group  
• The Manchester College (LTE Group)  

The RCU Award for Support for Students

• Coleg Cambria
• Derby College Group
• Kirklees College 

The Sustainable Energy First Award for Education for Sustainable Development

• Colchester Institute
• Heart of Yorkshire Education Group
• North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College

ION Award for Reengaging Young People in Education and Employment  

• Chelmsford College
• Nottingham College
• RNN Group 

The AQA Award for Improving Learner Progression in Maths and English 

• Runshaw College
• West Thames College