NCL’s networking initiative wins at CDN College Awards 2020
New College Lanarkshire has taken home a top prize at the CDN College Awards 2020 for its role in connecting and supporting businesses across Lanarkshire.
The College won the ‘Employer Connections’ category of the prestigious annual awards, hosted virtually by Elaine C Smith, which celebrate innovation in Scotland’s college sector.
The Lanarkshire Business Hub brings vital partners, industry experts and the business community together as part of monthly events and workshops to learn, network and collaborate for the benefit of the local economy.
Business membership continues to go from strength to strength, with more than 500 people currently involved, representing businesses from a range of sectors and across the region. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, events have continued via an online forum.
NCL’s submission, Connecting with Lanarkshire to Develop the Workforce of Tomorrow, won praise from the judges for “the way it demonstrated the successful impact of its systemic and creative approaches.”
Deborah Grant, Head of Commercial Business Development, said:
“At NCL we are passionate about supporting sustainable business growth in Lanarkshire through the facilitation of knowledge transfer, business networking and workforce development initiatives.
“This year, we’ve risen to the challenge posed by Covid-19 by taking our employer events online, with virtual workshops being hosted in partnership with Lanarkshire’s local authorities, Federation of Small Businesses and Business Gateway, and these have been really successful. It feels great for the hard work and efforts of our team to be recognised by winning this prestigious award.”
She added: “We are always striving to understand the changing needs of business and how we can support them by shaping our future curriculum to help meet their business needs. I am excited to see what 2021 will bring.”
Ronnie Smith, Chair of the Lanarkshire Board, said:
“This award is testimony to the considerable hard work and determination of those involved in the Lanarkshire Business Hub. This recognition by such an important peer group should give us a platform to grow and extend the effectiveness and relevance of the Hub as we face the challenges of a post-Covid world. I would like to express my personal appreciation to all staff who continue to make the Hub such a vital part of our College.”
Organised by the College Development Network (CDN), the awards this year took the form of a virtual celebration on Thursday 3rd December, with attendees encouraged to continue the awards’ traditional black-tie dress code.
NCL also provided entertainment on the night, with our BA Musical Theatre students performing ‘All That Jazz’ from the musical Chicago. You can watch the evening performance over on the College Development Network YouTube channel.
Student Maia Morrison also treated guests to a stunning version of Lady Gaga’s ‘Always Remember Us This Way’. Watch Maia's opening performance over on the College Development Network YouTube channel.