Open Awards

“This role is about more than governance; it is about making a meaningful difference.”

A warm welcome to Jasmin Lewis-Keedwell!

A senior leader turned consultant, we're proud to announce that yesterday Jasmin joined our board of trustees.

We can’t wait to work with her and learn from her experience in strategic development, organisational innovation and assessment design.

📣 Introducing the first of our two new trustees

During today’s AGM, we were proud to welcome new trustees to our board and over the next few days we’re introducing them to you.

First up is Vicki Stott

Sharing our passion for supporting learners to achieve, Vicky brings a wide range of experience to our board, including her recent role as Chief Executive of the The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).

We’re looking forward to hearing her insights into higher education, education policy and how we can continue to support learners.

From everyone at Open Awards, welcome Vicki! 🎉

Helo o Gaerdydd 👋

Mae Teri Greaves a Geraint Turner allan yn cynrychioli Open Awards yn nigwyddiad gofod3 heddiw yn Stadiwm Dinas Caerdydd.

Wedi'i gynnal gan WCVA CGGC, mae hwn yn gyfle gwych i sefydliadau dielw yng Nghymru ddarganfod sut y gallwn gefnogi eich darpariaeth hyfforddi.

Ewch draw i'w stondin i ddweud helo ac i drafod ein cymwysterau a'n hopsiynau achredu!

Hello from Cardiff 👋

Teri Greaves and Geraint Turner are out representing Open Awards at today's gofod3 event at Cardiff City Stadium.

Hosted by WCVA | CGGC, this is a great chance for Welsh non-profit organisations to find out how we can support your training provision.

Head to their stand to say hello and discuss our qualifications and accreditation options!

What does the social media ban mean for educators?

With the UK Government announcing plans to ban social media for under-16s, children's use of media is a hot topic.

Back at Education Insights 2025, Sam Flynn took this conversation further to consider digital wellbeing.

As educators, parents and policymakers consider what these proposed changes could mean in practice, Sam's talk offers a different angle on an important topic.

Watch the recording and join the conversation: https://openawards.org.uk/education-insights/

“For several young people, these have been their first formal academic achievements in years.”

For , we are celebrating our learners’ achievements.

Through tailored and flexible learning, our learners have:
✔️ Achieved formal qualifications
✔️ Progressed to further education or training
✔️ Gained confidence in their abilities
✔️ Strengthened key skills
✔️ Built resilience and improved their wellbeing

Swipe across to hear from our providers.

Discover how our Functional Skills qualifications can support your learners: https://openawards.org.uk/functional-skills/

Mercia Learning's Project GROW
-Future-Tutoring
Liberty College
Pure Innovations
Fable House
DABD

𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗘: 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀

As we gear up to Access to HE awarding season, Access to HE Development Manager, Vicky McClymont, reviews the UCAS 2024 application data, reinforcing the powerful impact of the Access to HE Diploma.

✅ 77.3% of Access to HE learners accepted to higher education
✅ 25% of learners accepted are aged 30+
✅ Increasing progression into competitive courses like healthcare, engineering and computing.

These figures tell an important story: one of second chances, career change, and the growing importance of lifelong learning.

Access to HE is not just a qualification. It is a proven, inclusive route that supports adult learners into university, high-demand sectors, and meaningful careers.

At Open Awards, we’re proud to see the continued success of our providers and the learners they support.

👉 Read more about the impact of Access to HE in our latest blog: https://openawards.org.uk/access-to-he-in-action-what-the-ucas-application-data-tells-us-about-opportunity-and-progression/

How can an Access to HE Diploma change lives?

Just ask Kelly Maria.

Since completing an Access to HE Diploma, she has not only changed the direction of her career, but she has thrived in her field having recently being promoted to Head of People.

A great success story that proves how Access to HE Diplomas help learners:
✔️ Start careers
✔️ Build confidence and resilience
✔️ Discover their passions
✔️ Believe in their academic abilities

Swipe across to read more about Kelly’s Access to HE journey.

Looking to expand your apprenticeship offer in the construction sector?

Swipe through to discover the key facts about the Construction Equipment Maintenance Mechanic apprenticeship standard, including:
☑️Who it's for
☑️Duration and delivery info
☑️How we assess it

Interested in offering this apprenticeship or learning more about apprenticeship assessments?
➡️ Get in touch with our team at [email protected]
➡️ Find out more about the standard https://openawards.org.uk/qualifications/open-awards-level-2-end-point-assessment-for-st0805-construction-equipment-maintenance-mechanic/

What makes an awarding organisation truly understand the challenges education providers face?

For Paul Henderson-Griffiths, our Director of Service Delivery, it's about staying connected to the realities of education through his roles as a school governor.

In this article, Paul shares how his governance work helps ensure Open Awards' decisions are informed by the day-to-day experiences of schools, colleges and training providers.

Swipe through for some key insights or read the article on our website:
https://openawards.org.uk/closer-to-your-reality-why-my-work-as-a-school-governor-matters-to-you/

World Environment Day 2026: Climate Action

At our Education Insights event, Dr Tony Bradley (Liverpool Hope University) shared how the climate crisis is shaping how young people feel about the future 🌍
But his message was clear: action creates hope.

This World Environment Day, let’s move from eco-anxiety to eco-action and empower learners to make a difference 💚

🎥 Watch the full talk: https://openawards.org.uk/education-insights/