Triple delight for Dumfries and Galloway College at national awards events

Dumfries and Galloway College (DGC) was celebrating after winning two top honours at the 2025 College Development Network Awards – while also landing a prestigious prize at the inaugural Crichton Awards!

At CDN’s gala occasion, which was hosted by Amy Irons, at Glasgow’s Radisson Blu on Thursday, December 4, DGC won the College Community Learning Award for its Empowering Communities: a Co-Designed PDA for Scotland’s CLD Workforce initiative, and also took top spot in the Sustainability Action category for the development of its pioneering Net Zero Skills Centre.

CDN’s annual event, which this year featured guest speaker Ben Macpherson MSP, Minister for Higher and Further Education, recognises the talent, skills and achievements of colleges, staff and learners and provides a valuable opportunity to celebrate the innovation taking place in colleges across the country.

And DGC’s two prizes acknowledged the college’s leadership in advancing both community development and environmental sustainability across the South of Scotland and beyond.

The Empowering Communities initiative was developed collaboratively with practitioners from across Scotland to enhance professional learning within the community learning and development (CLD) sector. The project demonstrates the college’s ongoing commitment to co-design, partnership and educational delivery.

The Net Zero Skills Centre represents a significant milestone in DGC’s sustainability strategy, providing state-of-the-art facilities for training and innovation in renewable technologies and low-carbon skills. The centre supports the regional transition to net zero while ensuring learners and businesses are equipped for the opportunities of a sustainable future.

Ben Macpherson MSP, Minister for Higher and Further Education, said:

“Colleges do remarkable work everyday – helping thousands of people to fulfill their potential, tackling some of the biggest challenges that we face as a society and in the economy, and keeping pace with technological advances and the fast-changing world of work. Our colleges are anchor institutions in our communities and a vital skills pipeline for so many key sectors.

“The variety of categories and nominations for the CDN College Awards demonstrate the incredible breadth of talent and innovation across Scotland’s college sector, and I commend and congratulate everyone involved.”

Meanwhile, on the same evening, Danielle Higginson, Business Development Assistant at DGC, won the staff award at the 2025 Crichton Foundation awards, which were held to celebrate the foundation’s 25th anniversary. The event honoured individuals and organisations whose work inspires, supports and strengthens the Crichton community.

Sponsored by the Open University in Scotland, the awards ceremony was hosted by Lori Carnochan, who presented winners across eight categories, and Ms Higginson took top place in recognition of

“her remarkable early career achievements, progressing from learner to first-class BA (Hons) graduate in Rural Business Management”.

Douglas Dickson, CEO and Principal, Dumfries and Galloway College, said:

“These awards recognise the outstanding commitment of our staff and partners in delivering innovative and impactful programmes that support learners, communities and the wider economy.

“We remain dedicated to leading the sector in delivering high-quality education and advancing sustainable growth for our region.”