Belfast Met wins three BTEC Awards

Belfast Met is celebrating the exceptional achievements of lecturers Clare Corey and Richard Spiller as they both received Silver BTEC Tutor of the Year awards, and student Stefanie McCluskey, who received the BTEC Sport Learner of the Year award. Their hard work and dedication was celebrated at the tenth anniversary of Pearson’s annual BTEC Awards hosted online today.  

Richard Spiller has been a full-time lecturer at Belfast Met since 2006 in the Centre for Supported Learning, and is one of two co-ordinators on the Level 1 Routeways programme. He has been teaching BTEC courses since 2010.  Richard said of his award, “I am delighted to have received this award, and enjoy using a range of teaching techniques and activities to engage the students.”

Clare Corey is a Programme Co-ordinator and Lecturer in Business and Workskills at Belfast Metropolitan College’s Centre for Supported Learning.  Speaking on receiving news of the award, Clare said: “I am delighted to be the recipient of this prestigious award for my role as a Lecturer at the College. My students have worked so hard all year, and I really have appreciated their engagement during COVID in meeting assignment deadlines.”

Stefanie McCluskey who has just completed her second year Level 3 Sports and Exercise Science Extended Diploma, and was presented the Gold BTEC Sport Learner of the Year 2020 award by Olympic Gold medallist Max Whitlock, said: “It is a privilege to have won this award and it has given me the motivation to continue working as hard as I can and go as far as I can in sports education. It has inspired me to be the best I can be and has just confirmed that I am on the correct path to my dream future.”

Commenting on Clare, Richard and Stefanie’s achievements, Principal and Chief Executive of Belfast Metropolitan College Louise Warde Hunter commented: “On behalf of the College I am delighted to be able to congratulate our lecturers Clare Corey and Richard Spiller, and student Stefanie McCloskey, all from the School of Health, Wellbeing and Inclusion on their outstanding achievements and well deserved recognition. It is a fitting tribute to their diligence, enthusiasm and commitment, and the winning student Stefanie has a very bright future ahead of her.”

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 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. The expert panel of judges made up of Pearson’s senior leadership team, journalists and external experts, carefully considered the nominees before deciding on the winners.