Double Success for SERC at Pearson BTEC Awards

It is a double celebration for @S_ERC (SERC) with the College picking up a Silver Award for College of the Year and business student, Pamela Burch, winning a Bronze Award at the @Pearson #BTECAwards2020.

Pamela, from Newtownards, a student on the Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Business, won the Bronze Award in the Business and Enterprise Learner of the Year category. Speaking about Pamela’s success, lecturer Gillian Auld said, “This is a well-deserved award for Pamela, and we are delighted for her success. Pamela made the decision to leave secure employment, returning to college to gain her qualifications and is now progressing to a business degree. She has been active in the College’s Entrepreneur Club and has proactively managed a student enterprise, Bits and Baubles, which produced personalised festive decorations, alongside her studies.  She is constantly moving her learning forward and in her own words, she is ‘living the dream’.”

SERC was also presented with a Silver Award for College of the Year in recognition of local, UK and international collaborative partnerships, preparation of young people for their next step, encouraging learners to thrive and providing an excellent centre for learning.  Ken Webb, Principal and Chief Executive at SERC said, “We are delighted to receive these Pearson BTEC Awards which recognise student Pamela Burch’s achievements and the success of the College as a whole. They are testament to the quality of the teaching, innovative learning, opportunities, and excellence which ensures SERC has the highest levels of student retention, achievement and success, and the most extensive business engagement of the six FE Colleges in Northern Ireland.”   

Cindy Rampersaud, Senior Vice President BTEC and Apprenticeship, said,  “This year I’ve been over-whelmed by the quality of BTEC Award nominations we received and I am delighted to celebrate this year’s winners and the achievements of all learners who will be awarded a BTEC this year.  Over the past few weeks and months, we’ve seen how the current pandemic has highlighted the critical role of key workers and individuals who are likely to have followed a vocational educational pathway such as BTEC.”  

The 2020 BTEC Awards comprised of 17 categories and was hosted online by presenter of the United Stand, YouTube influencer and BTEC Ambassador, Flex, with awards presented by Double Olympic Gold medallist, Max Whitlock, as well as actress and former BTEC Drama student at The BRIT School, Kellie Shirley.