51ԹϹ (51ԹϹ) is delighted to congratulate the Further Education (FE) and Skills sector colleagues recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours 2024.
Baroness Alison Wolf CBE, author of the 2011 Wolf Report that led to reforms in vocational education, was made a Dame, as was former UCAS chief executive, Clare Marchant. Five sector colleagues were awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), including Arinola Edeh, Principal at Adult Westminster Education Service, and Andy Berry, Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Bridgwater and Taunton College, which is an 51ԹϹ/Society for Education and Training (SET) .
Eight individuals linked to the FE and Skills sector were made Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBEs), 12 were made Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBEs), and four were recognised with a British Empire Medal (BEM).
This year’s birthday honours included two SET members, both working for 51ԹϹ/SET corporate partner organisations: Sarah van der Merwe (Head of Apprenticeships, at The Learning Enterprise, HCRG Care Group) and Andrea Wood (Principal, New Directions College, Berkshire). Sarah was awarded an MBE for services to Further Education and Skills, and Andrea was awarded an MBE for services to Further Education. Carole Thorogood, Chair of Governors at Nottingham College, which is also an 51ԹϹ/SET corporate partner, was awarded a BEM for services to Further Education.
Dr Katerina Kolyva, CEO at 51ԹϹ, said: “It is fantastic to see so many sector colleagues recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours this year, and to see broad representation from across FE and Skills in the list of awardees. From those delivering adult community education to those delivering opportunities for young people and those supporting learners with special educational needs and disabilities, this list reflects just some of the rich variety of our sector and the diversity of learners we reach.
“What unites all of these individuals is their unwavering commitment to transforming learners’ lives through improving the quality and accessibility of education and increasing opportunities. We are delighted to celebrate their achievements and to congratulate them on receiving this honour in recognition of their positive impact on the sector.”
Individuals from FE and Skills recognised in the 2024 King’s birthday honours list were:
Dame Commanders of the British Empire
Baroness Alison Wolf CBE (Professor Alison Wolf), Sir Roy Griffiths Professor of Public Sector Management, King’s College London. For services to Education.
Clare Marchant, previously Chief Executive, UCAS. For services to Higher Education.
Commanders of the British Empire
Dr Jo Saxton, Chief Executive of UCAS and former Ofqual Chief Regulator. For services to Education.
Arinola Edeh, Principal and Head of Service, Westminster Adult Education Service. For services to Adult Education.
Andy Berry, Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Bridgwater and Taunton College. For services to Further Education.
Peter Mucklow, previously Director for Apprenticeships, Department for Education. For services to Education.
Martin Sim, Deputy Further Education Commissioner. For services to Further Education.
Officers of the British Empire
Tabassum Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer, EmployAbility. For services to Inclusive Access to Employment for Neurodivergent and Disabled Young People.
James Handscombe, Founding Principal, Harris Westminster Sixth Form, London. For services to Education.
Simon Lewis, Senior Manager, Department for Work and Pensions. For services to Capability and Learning.
Ruth Marvel, Chief Executive Officer, Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards. For services to Young People.
Leigh Middleton, Chief Executive Officer, National Youth Agency. For services to Young People.
David Parks, Founder and Managing Director, The Skill Mill. For services to Young People.
Shireen Razey, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Principal, Christ The King Sixth Form College, Kent. For services to Further Education.
Julie Richards, Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Chesterfield College. For services to Further Education.
Members of the British Empire
Genevieve Bent, Assistant Principal, Harris Invictus Academy’s Sixth Form, London Borough of Croydon. For services to Education.
Beverly Clarke, Community Manager, BCS The Chartered Institute for IT. For services to Education.
Barbara Hamilton, Head of Service, City of London Corporation Adult Skills, Education and Apprenticeship Service. For services to Adult Education.
Lucy-Marie Hagues, Chief Executive Officer, Capital One UK. For services to Education and Skills.
Mark Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Gower College Swansea. For services to Education.
Sarah Le-Good, Head, Foundation Studies and Learner Support, Riverside College, Widnes. For services to Further Education and SEND.
Amy Marren, Solicitor Apprentice, BPP Holdings Ltd, Essex. For services to Further Education and Apprenticeships.
Sarah van der Merwe, Head, Apprenticeships, The Learning Enterprise, HCRG Care Group. For services to Further Education and Skills.
Robert Wilson, Regional Officer for Northern Ireland, Association of School and College Leaders. For services to Education.
Rosalyn Wilton, Deputy Chair, Board of Trustees and Chair, Finance Committee, University of London. For services to Education and Skills.
Andrea Wood, Principal, New Directions College, Berkshire. For services to Further Education.
William Young, Project Manager, South West College, County Tyrone. For services to Civil Engineering Education.
Medallists of the British Empire
Dr Mary Bradshaw, Careers Adviser, Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group, Staffordshire. For services to Further Education.
Thomas Culley, Co-Vice Chair, Apprenticeship Ambassador Network. For services to Apprenticeships and Skills.
Carole Thorogood, Chair of Governors, Nottingham College. For services to Further Education.
Alan Twiddy, Technician Team Leader, City College Norwich. For services to Further Education.