Hull College has been named as a ‘Commended College’ for two Association of Colleges (AoC) Beacon Awards.

The prestigious awards celebrate excellence in the sector with the Beacon Awards highlight the breadth and quality of education in colleges throughout the UK. These awards also help to demonstrate and promote the far-reaching impact of colleges on their students and the communities they serve.

The college’s recognition comes from its nominations in two categories, reflecting the breadth of our impact across language learning and sustainability. These award submissions successfully reached the AoC Beacon Standard and Commended Status and now means Hull College is in with a chance of being named as a finalist.

The Bell Foundation Award for Excellence in ESOL

At the heart of our ESOL initiative is the commitment to support the whole person, not just teach language skills. Many of our ESOL learners face unique challenges, from displacement to isolation, and we strive to support our students’ personal and educational growth. This creates a sense of belonging, helps learners overcome isolation, and builds bridges across cultures. A core innovation of the initiative is Silent Voices, Vivid Stories, an AI-powered digital art gallery hosted in Spatial. This virtual realm allows learners to share their personal narratives and cultural identities with family and friends worldwide.

The Sustainable Energy First Award for Education for Sustainable Development

‘Rising Tides, Rising Minds’, our innovative sustainability programme, is designed to tackle the urgent climate challenges of the Humber region. With no additional funding, Hull College has created an impactful curriculum to equip students with skills in renewable energy and sustainability. Over 2,651 students and 200 staff members have participated in this initiative, which includes real-world community projects such as beach clean-ups and habitat restoration. This programme not only prepares students for green careers but also builds a resilient, environmentally conscious community.

Click here to read the full case studies for all ‘Commended Colleges’.

The Beacon finalists will be announced on Tuesday 12th November at the AoC Annual Conference. AoC is the national voice for further education, sixth form, tertiary and specialist colleges in England.

It is a not-for-profit membership organisation established in 1996 by colleges, for colleges. Its members make up more than 90% of the sector - educating and training 1.6 million people each year.

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