Hosted by ITV presenter Emma Jesson, the glittering ceremony at Nottingham Belfry hotel and spa will reveal the winners of 14 categories, recognising outstanding achievement within the county’s business community.
The college is in the running for both the Excellence in Collaboration and the Education and Business Partnership categories for two highly-successful initiatives which have benefited students.
It was shortlisted for the Excellence in Collaboration award – which recognises business partnerships where organisations have collaborated on a project with a successful outcome – for its pioneering ‘West Notts College Travel Pass’ scheme.
Developed in collaboration with Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham Trent University and bus operators Stagecoach and trentbarton, the multi-operator ticketing scheme offers students unlimited travel across the college’s catchment area, seven-days-a-week, at a reduced cost.
This allows them to take a bus to college, work placements or part-time jobs, providing them with far greater flexibility than the college’s previously-contracted bus service, which operated twice-daily.
Launched in September 2023, the project has added more than 650,000 passenger trips to the local bus network by opening the market to students, improving connectivity and simplifying fares, and brought £1.2m of investment into bus services.
Meanwhile, the college is in contention for the Education and Business Partnership award – open to schools, colleges and training providers that engage effectively with business to help students develop crucial employability skills – for its annual ‘hotel takeover’ initiative with Thoresby Hall Hotel and Spa.
This sees students on hospitality, catering and other courses stepping into diverse roles within the grade 1-listed luxury hotel, from housekeepers to receptionists, gardeners to supervisors, and chefs.
Building upon the success of previous years, this highly-successful scheme continues to provide students with real-world experience and the hotel with a pipeline of potential future employees.
Working alongside industry professionals, students develop a deeper understanding of their chosen field alongside practical skills for the workplace. By immersing themselves in a fast-paced hospitality environment and the hotel’s day-to-day operations, they gain invaluable insights into industry practices while honing the qualities sought after by employers.
College principal and chief executive Andrew Cropley said: “East Midlands Chamber’s Business Awards are well-established as one of the most prestigious events in the calendar and we are thrilled to be finalists in two categories.
“Our nationally-unique bus service provides our students with great value, flexible transport, not just to college but to part-time work and for leisure. It has also secured the future of several bus routes and taken around 1,000 car journeys off the road every day.
“As such, it is a worthy finalist in the Excellence in Collaboration category.
“Our ‘hotel takeover’ of Thoresby Hall Hotel and Spa is a well-deserved finalist for the Education and Business Partnership award. Each year, students fulfil roles throughout the hotel for a full week and learn a huge amount about putting their skills into practice.
“Indeed, many of them progress to paid employment as a result.
“We and our partners very much look forward to a memorable evening among the region’s business community.”
East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “I congratulate West Nottinghamshire College for being shortlisted as a finalist at the Nottinghamshire Business Awards 2024.
“Being named as a finalist is a tremendous achievement; it shines the spotlight on a business that’s demonstrated qualities embodying the very best of the East Midlands, driving the region’s continued growth.
“I wish the college the very best for the ceremony, where I’m sure they will have an enjoyable evening alongside standout businesses of the East Midlands.”
The East Midlands Chamber’s Nottinghamshire Business Awards showcase the achievement and resilience of businesses across the county, recognising their strength in challenging times and the innovation that the East Midlands is so proud of.