College nominated for Oxfordshire employer award

Abingdon & Witney College have joined organisations from across the county’s business landscape in the hope of achieving success at the 25th Oxfordshire Business Awards (OXBA).

The awards will see hundreds attend a black-tie dinner at Oxford Brookes University’s John Henry Brookes Building on June 14.

Finalists have been announced in 13 award categories, including Charity and Community, Best Visitor Experience, and Employer of the Year.

It is the latter category that the College are in the running for, along with global consumer insights company Nielsen and Oxford-based Oodle Car Finance.

The OXBA recognised the College’s various achievements as a top employer, including a Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Gold Award two years running, a shortlisting for Professional Services Team of the Year in the Times Educational Supplement FE Awards, and numerous nominations for teachers at industry level.

This continuing success is, according to the College, “attributable to the skills, expertise and professionalism of our employees at all levels of the organisation and is underpinned by a culture of empowerment, investment in people and collaboration that allows everyone to thrive and contribute positively.”

Along with an award-winning Teaching Skills Academy (TSA), high-quality and innovative facilities and a strong culture of supporting local communities, the College has made great strides in becoming a recognised “employer of choice”.

Kelly Haddrell, Head of HR at the College, said: “To be a finalist for the Employer of the Year Award alongside successful local and global businesses gives us a real sense of pride and standing.

We’ve worked very hard over the past two years to become an employer of choice, where we can attract the best talent and offer the best support and training for our staff, and being in the running for such a prestigious award is fantastic.

The hard work doesn’t stop, but we will definitely enjoy awards night and hope for the best!”