Student success at Bath College celebrated at special awards ceremony

High achieving students at Bath College enjoyed their moment in the spotlight during a special awards ceremony held to celebrate each individual’s commitment and hard work.  

Over 40 students and their families were invited to the Celebrating Success Awards Ceremony at the Guildhall after being nominated for awards by their tutors.  

Students studying floristry, music and catering and hospitality gave up their time to make the event memorable with colourful table displays, canapés and entertainment.

The ceremony included students from every department and Oscar Marcus, Complementary Therapies Student of the Year, was one of the first students to collect his award.  

Oscar achieved over 50 hours of volunteering alongside studying at Bath College and now works at the 5-star Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel as a massage therapist.  

The 20-year-old said: “My new job is going really well and I’m learning a lot. It was a complete surprise, but I’m really honoured to be here and to be recommended for this award.  

“Being at college, it’s like a big family from the start, we all learned together. Some of us didn’t have any massage experience and now we’re going into work as professionals.”

Staff chose Karla Cabot as the Access to Higher Education Student of the Year after she successfully gained a place to study veterinary medicine at the University of Bristol.  

Seventy-three students have just started at university after finishing the access programme, which provides students with a nationally recognised qualification allowing them to progress to degree level.  

Course leader Carolyn Guy enjoyed catching up with Karla at the ceremony and also stepped onto the stage after being chosen for the B&NES Chairman’s Award for Inspirational Teaching.  

She said: “Karla showed a quiet determination throughout the course. She took every opportunity to gain a huge breadth of work experience in different specialities.  

“Veterinary medicine is a highly competitive degree and is offered by only seven universities in the UK. This not only a first for the access course at Bath College, but also a very rare achievement for an access student.”  

Members of the Step Up Group won the Student Service in the Community award, sponsored by The Rotary Club of Bath, for their work volunteering with the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust.  

The students, who are studying for a Step-Up Diploma, adopted a section of the canal to maintain, working to clear hedgerows and cut back overhanging trees.  

The ceremony also recognised the contribution local businesses make to student development, naming ESPA UK, Imperial Cleaning Services, and Hudson Stonemasonry as employers of the year.  

Managing director Simson Hudson sent his apprentice Alec Curtis to study at Bath College and was named as the Building Services, Construction and Engineering Employer of the Year.  

He said: “I’m completely humbled to be chosen for an award. It was very fortunate that Alec’s assessor visited us on quite a few occasions and was impressed with the work we were doing.  

“I’m very happy with what he’s done and what he’s learned at the college, with the workshop and the facilities. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Bath College as a training provider.”  

Bath College Principal and Chief Executive Laurel Penrose said: “On occasions like tonight it’s really the best part of my job.

Although tonight’s celebration might seem like a good conclusion for all the hard work that has taken place, in many ways it’s just the start.   “The college is delighted to be part of each student’s life journey.

“Part of our role as a college is about preparing students for the world of work. As a college, we want to make sure every one of our students achieve and are highly employable.  

“Qualifications are important, but our tutors go beyond this remit by fostering opportunities for students in the workplace. All these relationships benefit our learners and ensure they have the best opportunity to fulfil their potential.”