The College Collective awarded runner-up at the Institute of Leadership Awards

The Association of Colleges has been recognised by the Institute for Leadership for its College Collective programme for the second year running.

At the 2024 Institute of Leadership Awards in November, AoC was named as runner-up in the Most Innovative Institute Approved Programme category, beating the likes of Asda, The Scout Association, Leadership Psychology Institute and Housing 21.

The College Collective, founded in 2020 and run by AoC and the KWP Ltd, is a unique approach to sector-led consultancy. At its heart, the programme retains and develops talent in colleges and facilitates the sharing of expertise and best practice with others across the sector.

College managers are selected and then trained to be AoC Associate Experts and then matched to support other organisations across the UK, while their college receives support from other Associate Experts.

More than 25 forward-thinking colleges from across the UK are part of the Collective, with insight and best practice shared on several areas including commercial development, innovative pedagogy and curriculum development and leadership.

The value has been felt by those right across the programme, with participants reporting increased confidence in their ability and knowledge, and direct impact on learner experience, college strategy, and skill development.

Caroline Street, Executive Director, Business and Students Support, Hopwood Hall College, said: “This is our second year as a member of the College Collective having made strong and supportive connections in our first year of membership.  These reciprocal relationships have led to the generation of new ideas and informed various strategies to benefit our college.”

Neil Coker, CEO and Principal, Barnet and Southgate College, said: “The further education sector is awash with innovative ideas, solutions, diverse thinking, creative ideas and excellent practice. Equally, we are all always looking to improve and we are bold enough to know where we need to learn from others. The College Collective is an excellent vehicle to achieve this and, as an early partner and adopter, I can see the benefit to our practice but also the positive impact it has had on our ‘experts’ to be given that acknowledgment. A clear ‘win-win’.”

Gerry McDonald, Project Board Chair and Group Principal and CEO of New City College, said: “The College Collective is dynamic, inclusion and people-driven, and it has had a brilliant impact in the four short years it has been running. To be named as runners-up in an extremely competitive category is recognition of all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to make it so successful, and of value to colleges.”

Natalie Gee, Head of Recruitment & Consultancy, Association of Colleges, said: “It’s inspiring to hear from staff working at colleges across the four nations sharing how the College Collective has made an impact personally and professionally. We’re thrilled to accept this award on behalf of all of our AoC Experts who are at the heart of this excellent programme.”

To find out more about the College Collective, please click here.