Wirral Met College has been shortlisted for the 2020 Tes FE Awards in recognition of its outstanding Contribution to the Local Community.

The awards ceremony is the year’s biggest celebration of Further Education (FE) and skills, bringing together exceptional teachers, leaders, providers and behind-the-scenes teams.

Working in partnership with Wirral Borough Council’s culture team, local businesses and voluntary sector partners, Wirral Met developed a range of opportunities designed to immerse students in understanding the opportunities that Wirral and the City Region presents during Wirral’s Borough of Culture year 2019.

Principal Sue Higginson said: “Receiving news that we had been shortlisted for this prestigious award was a welcomed start to the New Year. In 2019, Wirral was recognised within the Liverpool City Region as the ‘Borough of Culture’ and our extensive programme of activities touched the whole community allowing hundreds of thousands of Wirral people to engage.

“Its success has left a legacy that we continue to build upon through the creation of strong, community partnerships that target action to make a difference. It is a great privilege to serve our community which is, after all, at the heart of everything we do and it’s fantastic that the award we have been shortlisted for is all about the involvement and impact we have within our treasured community.”

Staff and students got the opportunity to take part and volunteer at a rich range of community events that celebrated local heritage and culture, such as the OVO Energy Cycling Tour of Britain, Animated Square, Wirral Food and Drink Festival, The Witching Hour and the RRS Sir David Attenborough naming ceremony. The College’s bench joinery students also built ‘The Cube’ in collaboration with Finsa UK, which held several art exhibitions and events during the year.

The Borough of Culture programme also showcased the success of Wirral Met’s alumni, including internationally renowned artist Christian Furr and Paul Askew, Chef Patron of The Art School in Liverpool.

Tes FE editor Stephen Exley said: “Excellent practice exists right across the further education sector, and those shortlisted for the Tes FE Awards are the cream of the crop. Our judges were extremely impressed with the calibre of entries. To be shortlisted is an extraordinary achievement.”

The winners will be revealed at a gala awards evening at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London on Friday March 20.