Inspire Education Group (IEG)

Parliamentary Recognition for Inspire Education Group! ??? The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, highlighted her visit to Peterborough College in Parliament, praising the work we’re doing to support skills and employment. Our CEO, Rachel Nicholls, was personally name-checked by the Secretary of State, a fantastic acknowledgement of the leadership and innovation driving Inspire Education Group. It’s an honour to see our efforts recognised at the top level, reaffirming that we’re at the forefront of shaping the future of skills and education. Congratulations to our partners EML Electrical Contractors Ltd, Baker Perkins, GenPhoenix, Taylor Rose and CODEM Composites for earning recognition alongside us. ?? Watch the video to see the recognition in action!

University Centre Peterborough (UCP) was honoured to welcome Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, alongside Minister for Employment Alison McGovern, MP for Peterborough Andrew Pakes, and Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, Nik Johnson. The visit highlighted the University Centre's pivotal role in transforming education into meaningful career opportunities for our students. As part of Inspire Education Group (IEG), we provide a seamless pathway from further education to higher education, equipping learners with degree-level qualifications that improve their employment prospects and meet industry demands. During the visit, we hosted a Jobs Fair, where students engaged directly with local employers to explore career options and learn how higher education can help them succeed in a competitive job market. UCP is proud to support key national initiatives such as the Government’s ￡240 million 'Get Britain Working' and 'Youth Guarantee' White Paper by: ?? Offering degree programmes tailored to meet the needs of emerging sectors, including green and sustainable industries. ? Providing a clear progression route for students to achieve their ambitions locally, without barriers to further education. ?? Partnering with employers to align learning outcomes with real-world demands, creating a skilled workforce for the region. This visit reflects our growing reputation as a leader in higher education, regularly attracting national recognition and high-profile visits. Together with our partners, we are driving skills, innovation and opportunity for our learners and community. Read more: https://ow.ly/jogE50UfE9N

Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, visited Peterborough College and University Centre Peterborough (UCP) to see how IEG is driving skills, innovation and opportunity across the region. IEG’s pioneering initiatives have attracted national attention, featuring in major news outlets and welcoming high-profile visitors who recognise the Group’s transformative impact on education. As a key partner in the Government’s ￡240 million 'Get Britain Working' and 'Youth Guarantee' White Paper, IEG is addressing critical challenges, including supporting NEET young people, tackling local skills shortages and preparing learners for the workforce of tomorrow. The Secretary of State was joined by Minister for Employment Alison McGovern, MP for Peterborough Andrew Pakes and Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority Dr Nik Johnson. IEG is driving change by: ?? Innovating with projects like the Centre for Green Technology, equipping students with skills for green industries and supporting sustainability goals. ? Delivering education to thousands of learners annually, including tailored pathways for 16–18-year-olds and apprenticeships for in-demand sectors. ?? Building strong employer partnerships to provide industry-relevant training and create real opportunities for students. IEG’s work continues to set the benchmark for excellence in education, driving innovation, sustainability and opportunity across its communities. Read more: https://ow.ly/VpC950UfC0b Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) | Association of Colleges

Our upcoming Centre for Green Technology (CGT) has achieved national recognition in the latest issue of the Building Design & Construction - BDC Magazine! Featuring in a highly respected industry publication reflects the significant impact of our project at Peterborough College, which has already attracted national attention for its role in advancing sustainable practices, cutting-edge technology and skills development. This exciting ￡13.5 million project has been partly funded by Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority providing ￡2.471 million via the Transforming Cities Fund and ￡400,000 from the Local Growth Fund, further to the ￡1.9 million package from Peterborough City Council via the Towns Fund.

We’re proud to sponsor this year’s Peterborough Christmas Lights Switch-On! ??? Tune in to hear Liz Knight, Academic Director at University Centre Peterborough, chat with Kev Lawrence about the festive celebrations and the incredible opportunities UCP offers to students in Peterborough.

?? Celebrating Business Excellence in Peterborough! ?? Last night, I had the honour of attending the Peterborough Telegraph Business Excellence Awards 2024 at The Holiday Inn West, Peterborough, where some of the most outstanding businesses and entrepreneurs in our region were recognised. ?? As sponsors, those of us on the Inspire Education Group (IEG) table were able to see Peterborough’s business community come together to celebrate achievements across 13 award categories. The evening was filled with inspiring stories of innovation, community impact, and entrepreneurial spirit. ?? A huge congratulations to all the winners, including: Large Business of the Year – EPD Insulation Group Business in the Community Award – Fitness Rush Inc Medium Business of the Year – Hera Beauty Customer Service Award – Green Energy Switch Small Business of the Year – CONNECTIONS LEGAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED Innovation of the Year – Young Technicians Academy Digital/Technology Award – PSP IT Employer of the Year – Nene Park Trust Best New Business of the Year – Apiary Solutions Sustainability Award – Roythornes Solicitors Social Enterprise of the Year – Peterborough Womens Aid Young Entrepreneur of the Year – Adam Henson Business Person of the Year – Matthew Pudney Your achievements are a testament to the hard work, dedication, and innovation that continues to drive the growth of Peterborough’s business landscape. ?? Here’s to many more years of success and collaboration in our amazing business community! ?? #PeterboroughBusinessAwards #BusinessExcellence #Peterborough #BusinessCommunity #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #Sustainability #Leadership #AwardsNight

Thrilled to see the energy in the host room as we gear up for the #PeterboroughBusinessAwards!?? A great opportunity to celebrate the incredible achievements of businesses in our community. Best of luck to all the nominees! Inspire Education Group (IEG)

We're sending our best wishes to all the incredible nominees attending tonight's Peterborough Telegraph Business Excellence Awards! This evening is a celebration of your achievements and the incredible impact you've made within our community. Enjoy the night. To find out more about tonights event, click here - https://ow.ly/ZvH950UbC8F

Our Digital Learning Technologists had the fantastic opportunity to attend the Google Champions Energiser at Google HQ in Covent Garden! As the first in the Lincolnshire, Peterborough and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority regions to be awarded Google Reference College status, we’re proud to lead the way in educational technology. This event gave Tony Warner, Adam Wright and Gaz Lewis the chance to connect with fellow Google Champions, exchange ideas and get an exclusive preview of Google for Education’s upcoming projects. At IEG, we are committed to local skills development and meeting employer needs by equipping our community with the most relevant and innovative resources available. We’re excited to continue empowering students and staff with the tools that will shape the future of education and the workforce!

Recently, we proudly participated in the Further Education Leadership Summit hosted by Google for Education and FE Tech. Our Assistant Principal, Matt Shough, contributed as a panellist, sharing how we’re enriching our curriculum with Google Gemini. This cutting-edge technology enhances digital learning, equipping students with skills that are not only future-proof but also in high demand by employers. “We’re proud to lead in educational innovation, using advanced technology to create engaging and relevant learning experiences,” Matt shared. “Our use of Google technology not only enhances our curriculum but also opens up new opportunities for collaboration, creativity and critical thinking among our students." Read more: https://ow.ly/Nylj50U97Mb