The AoC Beacon Award for Enterprise

The AoC Beacon Award for Enterprise, sponsored by Make Your Mark, will recognise enterprising colleges offering enterprise activities for learners.

The winning college will display a commitment to creating an enterprise culture across the organisation, to embedding enterprise learning throughout the curriculum, and to providing enterprise opportunities for a diverse range of learners. We define enterprise simply as “having ideas and making them happen”.

An enterprising college will show commitment to creating:

1. A college wide emphasis on enterprise

Evidence of this might include:

A strategy for the development of enterprise learning across the college, with demonstrated senior level commitment
Enterprise capabilities, skills and attributes are embedded through a range of subjects throughout the curriculum
Evidence of Continuing Professional Development for practitioners to embed enterprise in teaching and learning
“Enterprise spaces” or incubation spaces (either currently available or being planned) for entrepreneurs to develop business ideas.

2. Enterprise opportunities for learners

Evidence of this might include:

Opportunities for learners to engage in enterprise activities through timetabled study, and/or extra-curricular activity
Entrepreneurship celebrated throughout the college as a viable and exciting aspiration for a diverse range of learners
Opportunities for students to engage with entrepreneurs and local businesses
Support and guidance for students wishing to start a business (guidance on applying for this award appears on page 8 and 59 of the AoC Beacon Awards prospectus/PDF 3.61MB)

2008/09 winner: The College Ystrad Mynach

The college showed it is dedicated to developing in its learners the attitudes, skills, potential and drive to turn ideas and opportunities into reality; thus enabling a positive, proactive and successful approach to life and work, whatever the learners‘ career choice. Read the College Ystrad Mynach’s inspiring story!

How to apply for the AoC Beacon Award for Enterprise

To apply for the Award please download AoC Beacon Awards prospectus (PDF 3.61MB) and return the completed application form to:

Alice Thiagaraj
AoC Beacon Awards Manager
AoC Charitable Trust
2-5 Steadham Place
London >WC1A 1HU

For information on how to apply please download the AoC Beacon Awards prospectus (PDF 3.61MB)

The closing date for this year’s applications is Wednesday 22 July 2009.

2009-2010 AoC Beacon Award Winners announced at the AoC Annual Conference on 17-19 November 2009.

About the AoC Beacon Awards

Launched in 1994, the AoC Beacon Awards recognise and are designed to promote the interdependence of further education colleges, business, professional and voluntary sector organisations to their mutual advantage.

The aim of the programme is to highlight the breadth and quality of education in colleges throughout the UK and increase understanding of colleges’ contribution to UK educational skills policy and economic and social development.

The Awards:

Recognise imaginative and exemplary teaching and learning practice in colleges
Draw attention to provision which encourages and supports learners to approach challenges positively and creatively
Support learning and continuous improvement through the dissemination of Award-bearing practice.

To find out more about the Awards please download the AoC Beacon Awards prospectus (PDF 3.61MB)