A WARRINGTON college has been named one of the best in the country.

Warrington & Vale Royal College was named as a commended college in the Association of Colleges’ (AoC) Beacon Awards 2023. The awards showcase the best practices among UK colleges each year and celebrate those who meet the AoC ‘Beacon Standard’ by demonstrating a high level of innovation, impact, and sustainability.

The Winwick Road college is a commended college for the ‘City & Guilds Award for College Engagement with Employers’, signifying the innovative work taking place as part of the college’s Business Centre initiative.

Nichola Newton, CEO and principal of Warrington & Vale Royal College, said: “I am immensely proud of our college for receiving this commendation. It is a testament to the dedication and tireless efforts of our exceptional staff.

"Their hard work and commitment have truly elevated our organisation to new heights and I look forward to another successful year of working in partnership with a range of esteemed employers.”

The college’s business centre aims to nurture strong, meaningful and mutually beneficial stakeholder partnerships, working across the college to provide employer-led activities for teaching staff and students.

Through the establishment of strong employer partnerships, staff and students alike benefit from an enriched experience comprised of regular interaction and engagement with employers.

One such partnership is with local videogame developer 10:10 Games.

Since the opening of the college’s Advanced Creative and Digital Skills Academy in September 2022, the college has worked with 10:10 Games to support the training, development, and recruitment needs of the gaming industry through industry placements, internships, live briefs, and input in the college’s curriculum planning.

CEO Arthur Parsons said: “Partnering up with Warrington & Vale Royal College has been a hugely successful investment of time for the team here at 10:10 Games. It is fantastic to have an educational institution that really cares about ensuring their students are learning exactly what our industry wants and needs and one that genuinely listens to our experiences from industry to help shape their course offering.”

To find out more about Warrington & Vale Royal College, visit wvr.ac.uk