A Supported Internship Student at Southampton College, part of South Hampshire College Group, has been announced as Volunteer of the Month at British Heart Foundation.
Freddie Allen, 20, was recognised for his commitment to going above and beyond his work duties at British Heart Foundation, during which he typically assists drivers with courier work, as well as building furniture, clearing household items and tidying facilities. March 2025 saw the Foundation become temporarily short-staffed, and Freddie volunteered to double his work hours to help operations continue as normal. Freddie’s contribution during this time left such an impression that he has since been offered a permanent paid position with the couriers after he completes his Supported Internship.
Freddie commented: “I have learnt a lot during my time in College and enjoy my work experience with British Heart Foundation even if it can be stressful sometimes. I have become more personable with others since starting my Supporting Internship course and have felt myself grow in confidence too.”
Freddie has been a student at Southampton College for four years, having completed Maths, English and functional skills qualifications before starting a Supported Internship program in September 2024.
Supported Internship programs are specialised work-focused courses designed to help students with learning disabilities access employment, emphasising spending time in a voluntary work placement to build experience. Students can expect to learn a wide range of transferable work skills, with the aid of a College job coach, while strengthening their interview, CV and cover letter abilities.
Tiffany Chan is Freddie’s allocated job coach during his studies. She commented: “I am so proud of Freddie – this type of success story is exactly what this course is set up and designed to achieve. It proves to themselves as students just what they can achieve, no matter what obstacles may be in their path.”
Eastleigh College, part of South Hampshire College Group, has been announced as Catering College of the Year in the 2025 Public Sector Catering Awards.
The ceremony, which took place on Thursday 24 April at the Hilton Metropole in London, was attended by over 600 guests representing all areas of the sector, such as education, armed forces, healthcare, universities and colleges. Over 100 competitors were in the running across 19 categories, with overall proceedings led by celebrity host and magician Ben Hanlin. Guests also enjoyed a three-course meal and a special raffle in aid of the Clink Charity, which aims to rehabilitate prisoners through nurturing hospitality and catering skills in a customer service environment.
Eastleigh College’s triumph in the Catering College category, sponsored by AroundNoon, recognised the exceptional standard of teaching and delivery in the Hospitality and Catering department, including its extensive range of industry collaborations, excellent career progression stories, and 100% retention rate across all subject levels. The student-led East Avenue Restaurant, also run by the Hospitality and Catering department, is the highest-rated restaurant in the Eastleigh area, with a 4.9-star rating on Tripadvisor.
Richard Carter, Lecturer in Hospitality and Catering at Eastleigh College, attended the event and commented: “We are delighted to receive such a prestigious award and this is a fantastic testimony to the hard work and efforts of our entire team, as well as our amazing students. It’s an honour to be recognised on the national stage in this way and we are committed to building upon this success as a department as we continue through 2025.”
David Foad, Editor of Public Sector Catering Magazine, said: “We have been absolutely blown away by the response we have received to the 2025 Public Sector Catering Awards. Nominations have flooded in and are almost 40% up on last year, which itself was the best ever. It shows that despite the massively challenging environment in which public sector caterers have to operate, they still see huge value in supporting their stand-out teams and individuals in the great job they do. In an industry in which such valuable work is often done with so little recognition, they obviously see the Public Sector Catering Awards as offering a chance to put that right.”
The Public Sector Catering Awards, formerly the Cost Sector Catering Awards, were initially launched in 1995 before a rebrand in 2020 to better reflect the sector that nominees operate in. Now in its 30th year of operation, these awards have a long and decorated Roll of Honours list, recognising industry pioneers from across the UK. 2025 saw a record for most entries received, with a total of 242 entries, proving to be a significant 35% jump on the 179 entries received last year.
For a full list of winners on the night, please click here.
For any further queries, please visit our website at www.shcg.ac.uk or email [email protected].
Southampton College, part of South Hampshire College Group, has hosted its inaugural ‘Be Safe, Stay Safe’ event; a special collaboration of local agencies and organisations who are dedicated to safety and wellbeing.
Key highlights of this unique event included an insightful discussion held by British Red Cross, an awareness session by YGAM and an informative talk by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service. Students also had the opportunity to interact with many supportive organisations in the local community such as ROSPA, St Mary’s Church, No Limits and Hampshire Police among others. All attendees received a complimentary meal, while the learning experience was made more memorable through a series of educational games which transformed the College’s Hub area.
Greg Evans, Chief Tutors for Riders in Hampshire at ROSPA, highlighted the long-term impact of these events: “We’re planting the seeds for road safety in these young students, and we also offer opportunities for post-test training. Ultimately, it’s about staying safe and being aware to keep everyone free from harm.”
Thomas Gilbert, a Marine Engineering student, shared his positive experience: “The experience today was different – it just kept getting better as I discovered so many new things. The safety-focused activities at the agency stands were fun to participate in, and the workshop talks were really informative. It was a very good event, offering a level of safety education we don’t typically have, even back in school.”
Lorraine Wheeler, Campus Designated Safeguarding Lead at Southampton College, emphasized the event’s importance, stating, “Equipping our students with crucial knowledge, skills, and tools for their safety was the core purpose of this event. By engaging directly with a diverse range of organisations, our students gained safety-related information in a truly realistic setting. Through workshops, they developed a deeper understanding of how to stay safe, leaving them empowered to confidently seek further information from relevant agencies on safety practices.”
The event proved to be a resounding success among students, with attendees from a diverse range of subject areas such as engineering, creative arts and foundation courses. This enriching experience has helped students feel more informed, empowered and equipped to deal with potential challenges they may face during their studies and beyond.
Local employers in the region are working closely with South Hampshire College Group (SHCG) to develop skills, share expertise, and create new opportunities for future engineers.
Through access to industry-standard facilities and structured work placements, businesses like Rigging Projects Group are seeing real benefits—not just in upskilling their teams but in building strong connections with the next generation of talent.
SHCG’s Centre of Excellence in Engineering, Manufacturing and Advanced Skills Training (CEMAST) facilities provide employers with tailored training that aligns with industry demands. Businesses looking to refine their workforce’s skills are finding value in these resources.
Molly Cooper, SHCG Commercial Activities Manager, highlighted the importance of this collaboration:
“It’s great to see how our facilities are helping Rigging Projects and other local employers to upskill staff and develop their teams. By working together, we can support innovation and business growth while ensuring that training meets real industry needs.”
For Rigging Projects Group, the benefits of engaging with CEMAST have been clear. Joe Porter, Head of Quality Assurance, shared his experience:
“The CEMAST facilities are always well maintained, and the course we attended has been invaluable in helping us understand machining processes more deeply. I’d recommend it to anyone in CNC machining or looking to expand their knowledge in this field.”
Beyond training, the partnership between SHCG and local employers is helping to bridge the gap between education and employment. T Level industry placements are providing students with hands-on experience while offering businesses the chance to shape and mentor future talent.
Sam Sainsbury, General Manager at Rigging Projects Group, spoke about the company’s positive experience with the programme:
“Our involvement in T Level industry placements has been overwhelmingly positive. The structured programme gives us a meaningful way to engage with emerging talent, and we’ve seen firsthand how valuable these placements can be. Based on their success, we’re continuing to host students as part of our commitment to developing the future workforce.”
By working together, local businesses and SHCG are creating opportunities that benefit both employers and students, ensuring the region remains a hub for skilled engineering talent.
A Level 2 Hospitality and Catering student from South Hampshire College Group has won the 2025 CombiGuru Challenge in Venice, Italy; a competition that was entered by over 3000 students nationwide.
17-year-old Hettie Anderson is a student at Eastleigh College, part of South Hampshire College Group, and earned her place on the winner’s podium by delivering the highest-scoring main course and dessert to a panel of four expert judges within a strict three-hour time limit. Each competitor had to centre their dish around a random ‘mystery ingredient box’, with Hettie’s being tomato and chives for her main and pistachio for her dessert. Her main course, Roast Chicken served with romesco sauce, heritage tomato salad and lemon caper butter oven-steamed potatoes, was praised for its vibrancy and freshness while her Pistachio Financier dessert, served with vanilla bean chantilly, blood orange, and caramelized white chocolate, was commended for its taste and presentation.
As overall winner, Hettie’s prizes included a state-of-the-art Unox Oven to bring back to Eastleigh College, with free installation included, as well as £1000 worth of Italian cookery classes, a specialist Italian knives set and a kilogram of sustainable cooking flour.
Hettie commented: “This was a fantastic experience and I am beyond thrilled to have won the 2025 CombiGuru Challenge. Beyond the competition itself it was such a fun trip, exploring beautiful Venice, enjoying so much wonderful food from the local restaurants and the hotel was very nice too. The organisers really took care of all us finalists which really helped to make it an unforgettable trip. This competition caught my eye when I first joined the college so to have gone all the way and won it feels amazing.”
Hettie earned her place in the Venice final by being the top college performer after a 21-day app-based culinary test, that explored cooking techniques, seasoning practices, flavour combinations and more. The competition is open to all Hospitality and Catering students across the UK and always proves popular, with last year’s edition seeing 220 colleges and a total of 3200 students enter. Only the top 40 highest points scorers progress to the Venice final.
Caroline Perrett, Curriculum Director at Eastleigh College, commented: “We are incredibly proud of Hettie’s remarkable achievement at the 2025 CombiGuru Challenge. Her success is not only a testament to her talent, dedication and creativity, but also to the quality of teaching and support provided by our Hospitality and Catering team at Eastleigh College. Competitions like this are invaluable for our students’ growth, giving them real-world experiences and international exposure that truly elevate their learning. Hettie has set an inspiring example for her peers, and we look forward to seeing her continue to thrive as she progresses in her culinary journey.”
Hettie added: “My time at college massively helped me during this competition, I have gained so much confidence during classes and my tutors have really helped me improve my time management in the kitchen which was a big theme of the final. I feel very fortunate to be at a college where we have so many development opportunities as students, and I am planning to continue on to my Level 3 qualification next year.”
The 2025 competition was the eighth edition of the CombiGuru Challenge, which offers aspiring chefs an engaging educational experience, designed to both challenge and enrich cooking skills and knowledge. With its popularity increasing each year, with greater traction across the UK, Italy and Spain, this event has cemented itself as a firm fixture on the Hospitality educational calendar.
For any further information on the CombiGuru Challenge, please click here.
An electrical student from South Hampshire College Group has won the national Sparks Learner of the Year competition, held in Birmingham, taking home a £2000 cash prize and an assortment of cutting-edge industry equipment.
Frankie McAll, a 20-year-old electrical apprentice at Eastleigh College, emerged victorious from eight competitors in what was a closely contested final taking place over two days. Each finalist was tasked with completing a professional installation layout from scratch, following the same illustrated instructions. The action unfolded at the JTL Centre in Birmingham, following a series of regional heats staged across the country earlier this year.
Cheering Frankie to success in Birmingham were his apprenticeship mentor, Dan Hutton from JTL, and his college tutor Paul Austin, who originally put Frankie forward for the competition. Frankie received a cash prize of £2000 as the overall winner, alongside a set of six power tools from the latest range, a tool rucksack, electrical connectors and a series of industry books.
Frankie McAll commented: “I was genuinely surprised and very happy to win. The final was very challenging compared to the regional heat and there was a lot to do in the timeframe. It’s given me a lot of confidence going forward and I’d like to thank all my college lecturers – Alan, Mark, Paul and James, as well as my mentor Dan from JTL and my employer Rob at Cardinal Electrical. I really felt their support throughout the whole competition.”
Paul Austin, Electrical Curriculum Manager at Eastleigh College, commented: “I am a very proud tutor and was extremely happy when Frankie’s name was called out. This is always a very competitive contest and it’s a huge achievement to even get a national finalist let alone a winner. This will open so many career doors for Frankie and hopefully set him up for a long and successful career in the industry. It’s also fantastic for our college and our apprentices will hopefully be inspired to see what can be achieved with hard work and dedication.”
The annual Sparks Learner of the Year competition celebrates the most exciting new talent in the UK electrical industry, allowing students to put their technical abilities, skills and knowledge to the test in a competitive environment. Organised annually by SPARKS Magazine, the contest begins with six regional heats held across the country before the grand final in the Spring. Frankie secured his place in the final by winning the South East regional heat in February.
South Hampshire College Group are celebrating National Careers Week 2025 with a new matrix Standard accreditation, successfully achieved through sustained delivery of high-quality careers support for prospective and current students.
Special commendation was given in this report to the College Group’s commitment to positive working and effective collaboration with internal and external partners, and commitment of managers to work towards alignment across the organisation. Staff and students alike were identified as being well supported, with plenty of available careers guidance that has proved impactful to students.
The matrix Standard is the international quality standard for organisations that deliver careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG), either as their sole purpose or as part of their service offering. This external audit required a review of South Hampshire College Group’s Careers and Admissions processes and procedures, feedback from students, as well as reviewing relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Roger Chapman, Head of the matrix Service for The Growth Company said: “This is a fantastic achievement for South Hampshire College Group and I would like to congratulate the team on their success. We believe that at the heart of high-quality advice and support services are strong leadership, excellent service and a focus on continuous improvement, all underpinned by effective use of the resources available. The matrix Standard is designed to benchmark organisations against best practice in these areas. With their accreditation success, South Hampshire College Group is working to provide the best possible support to their clients.”
Ashley Martin, Director of Student Experience and Transition at South Hampshire College Group, commented: “We are extremely proud to have achieved matrix accreditation. This accomplishment is a testament to the dedication and hard work of all across our organisation. It reinforces our commitment to support students in receiving high-quality advice and guidance that helps them reach their full potential and achieve their career goals.”
Trudy McKenzie, Group Careers and Admissions Manager at South Hampshire College Group, commented: “We are delighted to have received this accreditation as recognition for all the hard work that goes into the delivery of our careers information, advice, guidance and customer service. The progress of the merger and aligning careers and admissions across our three colleges – Eastleigh College, Fareham College and Southampton College – hasn’t been without its challenges, but it is great to know that it has not affected the level of support given to students and potential students.
“We couldn’t have received this accreditation without the dedication and hard work of all our Admissions & Guidance Officers, Reception staff, Admissions Leads and Careers Advisers. This has been a real team effort and we would like to thank all those other wider staff members, stakeholders and students, who assisted by speaking to the Report Assessor.”
Building upon this fantastic achievement, South Hampshire College Group’s celebrations of National Careers Week (which runs 3rd – 8th March) will be extra special this year, featuring engaging events and activities for all students across the college group, including employer talks, in-person support from universities, mock interview opportunities, CV workshops and careers drop-in sessions.
For further information, please contact South Hampshire College Group at [email protected] or visit www.shcg.ac.uk.
South Hampshire College Group students from the Early Years and Health & Social Care departments have returned from an unforgettable two-week adventure in The Gambia. There, they helped support local schools and hospitals, visited wildlife parks, and engaged in team-building activities. This trip was the organisation’s first as part of the government’s Turing Scheme.
A total of 14 students, across Level 1, 2 and 3 studies, and staff participated in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as part of a program designed to offer enriching personal and professional development through unique work placements, exploratory visits to cultural areas of interest and supporting local communities. The cohort began their adventure with a team-bonding weekend, where they visited the country’s capital, Banjal, in addition to a crocodile park, a monkey park and a full induction. 10 days of eye-opening work placements followed, with the eight Early Years students supporting teaching at a local school, while six Health & Social Care students were stationed at a local hospital, supporting A+E, surgical and maternity wards. An activity weekend provided a valuable respite between the work placement days, during which students enjoyed a special sunrise kayaking trip and learnt valuable skills with the local community, such as cooking new dishes and caring for young children.
Kirsty Rennie, Curriculum Area Manager at South Hampshire College Group, was one of the staff members who supervised the trip. She commented: “This was truly an incredible experience for all of us, and it was amazing to see how our students culturally embraced the experience, none of whom had been to a third world country before. There were challenges to overcome, such as language barriers, intense hospital experiences and generally stepping outside of the comfort zone, but our students should be so proud of how they rose to these challenges and demonstrated professionalism and resilience.”
Sophie is a Health and Social Care student who participated in the trip. She commented: “The highlights of my experience include my favourite locations, such as the beach and the monkey park, as well as the exceptional staff at Kanifing Hospital. I would also like to express how much this opportunity enhanced my self-confidence, not only in my personal abilities but also in my capacity to engage in future opportunities. This experience allowed me to observe healthcare and professionalism within a different cultural context, particularly in a less affluent community. Furthermore, the trip provided me with the opportunity to meet new individuals and develop my social skills. I believe that my time in The Gambia has contributed to my personal growth and expanded my knowledge, creating lasting memories that I will never forget.”
Millie is an Early Years student who joined the trip. She said: “This trip really changed me so much as a person. It’s such a different environment from my experience working in an English nursery and we all felt so welcomed into the community. I felt so emotional having to leave the children because we all wanted to keep helping them, but it really makes you appreciate the simple things and how fortunate we are. I would recommend an experience like this to anyone, it really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
This trip was made possible through the Turing Scheme, a new £110 million initiative from the UK government that offers overseas learning experiences for students across the UK, with additional support for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. These fully funded trips give students experiences they otherwise might not be able to enjoy. The scheme has received a hugely positive reception since launching at South Hampshire College Group in December 2024. Further trips are already planned for Sri Lanka and Bali in March 2025, and more trips will be announced later in the year.
To learn more about the Turing Scheme, please click here: https://shcg.ac.uk/turing-scheme/.
South Hampshire College Group has been officially awarded with ‘Highly Commended’ status in the 2024 Digital Education Awards.
This international recognition is for the exceptional progress the organisation has made this year in digital industries through leading a variety of successful initiatives. These include the mobile technology roadshow TECH:TRUCK, the brand new Digital Training Vessel, and the community-focused South Coast Institute of Technology, which brings together further education and higher education providers from across Hampshire. The accolade also acknowledges the organisation’s commitment to community impact, diversity, and technology-driven learning, addressing local needs and reducing skills gaps.
Naomi Smith, Local Skills Improvement Fund Programme Director at South Hampshire College Group, commented: “We are delighted to receive this Highly Commended recognition for our digital breakthroughs this year as an organisation. TECH:TRUCK has grown to become one of the most popular attractions in the Solent’s education sector, introducing exciting new technical education technologies to young people and helping them identify career pathways in our LSIP-identified priority sectors, including Creative Arts, Health and Social Care, Engineering and Manufacturing, Marine Engineering and Net Zero technologies. As we continue to embrace the innovation ecosystem, through initiatives such as our state-of-the-art Digital Training Vessel (DTV1) we are excited to be at the forefront of industry-lead skills development for the Solent. The South Coast Institute of Technology represents unprecedented higher technical education opportunities, thanks to the collaboration of further education and higher education providers across Hampshire. We are constantly looking to innovate and grow, and this award gives us great encouragement going forward into 2025.”
A 2024 Digital Education Awards judge commented: “Your proactive collaboration and innovative use of technology position SHCG as a transformative leader in education. By continuing to embrace and expand these strategies, you have the opportunity to solidify your reputation as a key player in reshaping the local skills landscape.”
The Digital Education Awards celebrate the products, platforms, teams, and services leading the digital education scene today. They are open to individuals, organisations, and businesses worldwide. The 2024 awards featured sixteen different categories, with South Hampshire College Group’s Highly Commended recognition in the ‘Digital Education Institution of the Year’ category.
For any further information, please contact the College Group at [email protected].
South Hampshire College Group is excited to announce its participation in a new government scheme designed to provide unforgettable learning experiences abroad for students.
The Turing Scheme is a £110 million government programme designed to offer fully-funded international education trips to students across the UK, with additional support to those from disadvantaged backgrounds. A variety of activities can take place on these trips such as building houses for the local population, working in the local care community, and collaborating with local education and sports groups. There are also opportunities to enjoy the local culture, such as safari trips, city explorations, visiting famous landmarks, and working on arts and community projects.
Ben Sheridan, Vice Principal at South Hampshire College Group, commented: “The Turing Scheme provides South Hampshire College Group with an excellent opportunity to send our students abroad for life enhancing work placements. This will provide unique first-hand experiences of life abroad, immersing students in different cultures. Our students will be visiting unique destinations which for many, will be their first time outside the European continent or possibly abroad. I am truly proud to be able to offer this to our students, and this year marks the start of a growing international department who will be able offer further trips to more students in the future.”
Paris Carter, Turing Scheme Coordinator at South Hampshire College Group, commented: “The Turing Scheme provides unique, once-in-a-lifetime international work experience placements and cultural experiences for our students at South Hampshire College Group. Participation in these trips allows for personal – and professional – growth and development and boosts employability and is a fantastic opportunity!”
South Hampshire College Group has already announced four planned trips in 2025 through the Turing Scheme including to Gambia in January, Sri Lanka in February, Bali in March and USA in April. These initial trips will be available to students on Health, Childcare, Sport and Travel and Tourism courses, with opportunities being explored to expand this offering further into 2025.
Greg Cheeseman, Hospitality Lecturer at Eastleigh College, part of South Hampshire College Group, attended the 2024 Pearson National Teaching Awards on 30 November as a finalist and was presented with a Silver Award for Further Education Lecturer of the Year.
Thousands of nominations were received this year in the Pearson National Teaching Awards, often referred to as the ‘Oscars’ of the teaching profession, with a select few receiving the prestigious Silver and Gold Awards. Entries came from schools and colleges from across the UK.
Greg’s Silver Award accolade has put a national spotlight on his impressive devotion and achievements over the ten years as a chef lecturer at Eastleigh College. His dedication and input into empowering and upskilling young people in the local community go far beyond standard teaching responsibilities.
Greg Cheeseman, Hospitality Lecturer at Eastleigh College, commented: “I was honoured to represent South Hampshire College Group at the Pearson Teaching Awards London ceremony. It was a privilege to be in the same room as other like-minded educators listening to worthy winners’ stories. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me over the years, from past lecturers who taught me, to my fantastic students past and present and to the great team I work with today.”
Sue Lyons, Head of Hospitality at Eastleigh College, commented: “It is amazing that Greg has been recognised at a national level for all the work he continues to do on a daily basis to inspire our young chefs and give them the best experience possible.”
Now in their 25th year, the Pearson Teaching awards celebrate the best of teaching across the UK and the impact and dedication of teachers in ensuring the best for their students. The 2024 ceremony, held at The Brewery, London, was presented by TV presenter Gaby Roslin, in a nostalgic throwback to the very first Pearson Awards in 1999, which she also presented.
For more information on the Pearson National Teaching Awards, please visit their website here.
Eastleigh College have hosted their annual Christmas Fair which has proved to be a huge success, raising an incredible £2273.46 for Piam Brown Ward of University Hospital Southampton.
The Christmas Fair was organised by Event Management students and gave them the opportunity to showcase months of meticulous planning and hard work that had been put in since the beginning of the academic year. The students created a winter wonderland filled with immersive decorations, a marketplace with local stallholders and gift sellers, a Santa’s Grotto, and a variety of fun activities and games for the whole family.
Students from other departments across the college also took part, including Kickstart students who were fundraising for their ‘Rise Up’ campaign, Art & Design students selling homemade Christmas Cards, and Hair & Beauty students offering sparkling holiday treatments such as hair tinsel.
The primary focus of the event was fundraising for The Piam Brown Ward, a unit based in University Hospital Southampton that cares for children with cancer. The Event Management students worked tirelessly to support this worthy cause and their efforts were richly rewarded, raising an impressive £2273.46. These funds will help ensure the continuity of quality service that Piam Brown are renowned for, and ensure bespoke support for patients and their supporting staff.
Eastleigh College would like to thank the whole Event Management department and wider students and staff who contributed to making the event such a memorable and impactful occasion.
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