South West

Dear South West colleagues,

What a truly amazing Colleges Week it was last week with so many South West colleges getting involved to demonstrate the impact colleges have in our communities. The range of activity across the region really demonstrated the strength, energy, and achievements of our sector. Thanks to everyone who contributed and participated in making Colleges Week 2026 a success #CollegesWeek2026.

As part of a continuing drive to raise awareness of the incredible contribution south west colleges make, the chief executives and principals of the colleges in the region met together in London with key government officials on 10 February followed later in the evening with an AoC South West Colleges Parliamentary dinner in the House of Commons with a range of MPs and a Lord from the South West in attendance (see picture below). The Parliamentary dinner was hosted by Tom Hayes, MP for Bournemouth East and MPs from a range of political parties attended to demonstrate their support for their local college and discuss together how we can work more collectively to champion our colleges and deliver together on our shared ambitions for our wider region.

It was really heartening to see that the MPs and government officials we met with throughout the course of the day and then at the Parliamentary dinner all clearly understood and wanted to support the crucial role colleges play in driving growth and opportunity across the South West.

There has been much to celebrate in the region this week, including having three South West colleges shortlisted as finalists in five award categories at the Apprenticeship and Training Awards 2026. Congratulations to Exeter and North Devon College, Weston College and UCS College Group for being finalists!

We are always keen to highlight the range of fantastic activity happening across all colleges in the region so please do contact us if you would like to feature good news on our College News webpage.

As we begin to see the first signs of spring, I look forward to meeting many of you at the upcoming network meetings, and as always if you need any help or support, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best wishes,
Jo Watson
Area Director – South West

Network Meetings
AoC South West Governance Professional Network
Thursday 12 March 2026
10am – 12pm

AoC South West Finance Network (In person at Cannington)
Tuesday 17 March 2026
10.15am – 2pm

AoC South West Chairs of Corporation Network Meeting (In person at Taunton)
Wednesday 25 March 2026
1.30pm – 5pm

AoC South West Curriculum and Quality Network
Tuesday 31 March 2026
10am – 11.30am

Network meeting invitations are circulated in advance of each meeting and added on our events page. If you don’t receive direct communications from us and would like to be added to our distribution list, please email (sarah.gardner@aoc.co.uk).

Dear South West colleagues,

I hope the New Year has started well for you and learners are settled back into their courses.

I am sure you will be busy with National Apprenticeship Week, shining a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy. Please do use the official toolkit and resources that can be found here.

Just one month later, we’ll be marking Colleges Week 2026 from Monday 2 March to Friday 6 March, with this year’s theme: Skills for All. Many of you will already be planning activities aligned with the daily themes, these, as well as additional resources are available here, including template letters for MPs, media and press materials, and ideas for involving employers and partners.

If you haven’t done so already, please do visit the webpage for the Adult Learning Pays campaign, which seeks to champion the transformative potential of adult education, and get involved and sign up for regular updates. Adult education strengthens individuals, employers, and communities by building skills, confidence, and social connection, delivering benefits that reach far beyond the classroom. Yet it remains undervalued, and this campaign aims to shift the narrative by showing that investing in adult learning is a strategic choice that tackles skills gaps, reduces inequality, and drives long‑term social and economic growth.

Finally, I am sure you are aware that WorldSkills UK National Competitions registration will be opening next month, with more information about the timeline and competitions to be found here.

I hope you’re able to enjoy a well-deserved and relaxing half term break after such a busy start to the term and as always if you need any help or support, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best wishes,
Jo Watson
Area Director – South West

Network Meetings

AoC South West Principal/CEO Network and Parliamentary Dinner
Tuesday 10 February 2026 - London
12.30 – 10pm

AoC South HE Forum
(SE/SW and London)
Thursday 12 February 2026
11am – 12.30pm

AoC South Skills and Apprenticeships Forum
Wednesday 25 February 2026
10 – 11.30am

AoC South West HR Network
Tuesday 10 March 2026
10 – 11.30am

AoC South West Governance Professional Network
Thursday 12 March 2026
10am – 12pm

AoC South West Finance Directors Network (In person - Taunton)
Tuesday 17 March 2026
10am – 2pm

AoC South West Chairs of Corporation Network Meeting (in person - Taunton)
Wednesday 25 March 2026
2 – 5pm

AoC South West Curriculum and Quality Network
Tuesday 31 March 2026
10 – 11.30am

Happy New Year! I hope you were able to enjoy a well-earned and restful break over the festive season. A heartfelt thank you to all the colleges that shared such thoughtful Christmas greetings with us. We send our very best to you all for a successful and positive year ahead.

It was great to see FE leaders recognised in the New Years Honours list including Jane Hadfield, newly installed Chair of Corporation at Weston College who was awarded an MBE for services to education.

This recognised her long-standing contribution to skills as the national lead for apprenticeships in the NHS and former board member of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

I am sure you will have noted that Colleges Week 2026, will take place from Monday 2 March to Friday 6 March and the theme for this year Skills For All. I encourage you to start planning activities in the diary, and further information and resources can be found here. If we can support you with this, please get in touch.

If you have not done so already you may wish to complete this survey from the High Value Manufacturing Catapult who are seeking insights from FE colleges on how you engage with advanced manufacturing, and how they can better support your students, staff, and employer partners over the next two years. Your responses will directly shape how they develop future programmes and partnerships to strengthen FE provision and grow the UK’s advanced manufacturing capability. Please complete the survey by 19 January 2026.

I have no doubt that 2026 will be just as busy as last year. We will continue to do our best working with you to influence policy, communicate key messages and provide timely support, and as always, we have a number of events planned for this first half term that we very much look forward to seeing many of you at.

SW Curriculum and Quality Network
Wednesday 14 January
10:00am – 2:00pm
South Devon College

South SEND Forum
Tuesday 27 January
10:00 – 11:30am
Online

SW Principal/CEO Network and Parliamentary Dinner
10 February
London

South HE Forum
Thursday 12 February
11:00am – 12:30pm
Online

South Apprenticeship Forum
Wednesday 25 February
10:00 – 11:30am
Online

Best wishes for the start of term and as always if you need any help or support, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best wishes,
Jo Watson
Area Director – South West