PARTNERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2014/15
Introduction
The Angus Council are once again organising their annual Partnership Recognition Event to be held in June of this year. The aim of this event is to celebrate, acknowledge and publicise the excellent partnerships that exist between education, employers and the wider community within Angus.
This will be the 10th year Angus Council have organised this informative and celebratory evening, with feedback every year being extremely positive as an event that is highly valued and enjoyed by both the education and business communities.
During the event a presentation of awards will be made to a number of local employers and partner organisations in recognition of the extremely valuable contribution they make to schools within Angus. This occurs in many different ways but includes the provision of a ‘real-life’ context for learning; helping with the development of skills for learning, life and work; exposing young people to the concept of enterprise and employability; support through the provision of time, materials and resources; and/or providing a wide ranging understanding of industry and careers.
Purpose of the Awards
Recognising employers that are building partnerships with Angus schools, ensuring our young people are better prepared for life beyond school and the world of work.
Acknowledging the time, resources and commitment employers and other partners invest in supporting the development of young people’s skills for learning, life and work in Angus.
Showcasing innovative and creative examples of successful collaboration between education and the local business community.
Celebrating success and the benefits gained by all through the development of effective partnerships.
Thanking each employer/organisation/individual who has worked with us, our schools and young people over the last 12 months
Definition of Education & Employer Partnership
The term ‘Employer’ refers to any external business/individual/group who works in partnership with a school to support and enrich the curriculum.
This could include:
• Public Sector – e.g. central/local government, health trusts, educational bodies, police, and public corporation
• Private Sector – e.g. private companies, sole traders, partnerships, PLC’s, franchises and cooperatives
• Voluntary Sector – e.g. charitable organisations, volunteer community, advocacy/interest groups
• Wider Community – e.g. Business Associations, Round Table/Ladies Circle Groups, Sports Clubs
*For the purposes of these awards, it does not include companies/organisations that have been paid to deliver an activity/service in school.
Encouraging more employers to take action to work with schools and support young people.
Award Categories
In light of this being the 10th year of the Partnership Recognition Event, the award categories and format of the event have been refreshed in order to reflect the current educational and economic landscape.
Partnership Excellence Award – Community & Social:
This award recognises community-based partnerships and social enterprise activities which help to build the confidence and motivation of young people and allow them to develop skills which prepare them for future roles in society: i.e. volunteering; business for good; charity; working with, and responding to the needs of the community / participation in community life; awareness of diversity, inclusion and citizenship; environmental collaborations.
There are three prestigious award categories:
Partnership Excellence Award – Enterprise & Entrepreneurship:
This award recognises partnerships which inform, enhance and promote the development of enterprise and entrepreneurship education: i.e. developing employability skills/skills for learning, life and work; work related learning; work experience; vocational training; career management skills; preparing for employment; setting up a new venture/business.
Learning often takes place within schools without bearing the label of \'enterprise\'. More important than labels are the approaches taken, the behaviours, attributes and skills developed, and the ability to apply this learning context.
Partnership Excellence – Long Standing Commitment Award (5 years and 10 years):
This award will be presented to employers who have demonstrated a long-term commitment to education in Angus. Recognition will be given to those who have sustained a partnership for both 5 and 10 years respectively.
Award Criteria
Each of the award categories outlined above are designed to recognise quality/outstanding examples of partnership working between education and the business community.
Nominations are welcomed from Early Years establishments, Primary and Secondary schools, as well as employers, community partners. and organisations/individuals external to the school.
The judges are keen to see examples of innovative and effective engagement and partnership working.
Successful applicants will be able to clearly evidence the following:
The activity/partnership is a newly initiated activity or a clear development of an existing programme within the last school year (2014-15) (excluding the Long Standing Commitment Award)
Clear curricular links / integration with appropriate CfE Experiences & Outcomes / SQA courses
Clear commitment from both the employer(s) and the school(s) to work together in the long-term, and for any engagement to be sustainable
Real Impact has been made and benefits have been gained by all key stakeholders (i.e. young people, school, business/partner organisation)
Previous Winners
Last year’s Excellence Award Winners included Brechin High School and Forster Group Ltd; and Montrose Cluster of Schools and Links Park Community Trust. You may find it helpful, as part of the nomination process, to take a look at their case studies here: goo.gl/SZpC1l
How to Apply
It is the intention to encourage as many entries as possible and to keep the administration simple. Therefore a standard nomination form has been produced and should be used for each of the Partnership Excellence Award categories (see attached). Only submissions made on this official form shall be considered.
Entries may typically, but not always, be made jointly by the school and employer/organisation involved.
Nominations for the 2014/15 Partnership Excellence Awards should be submitted to Lesley Watson, Business Liaison Officer by 5pm on Thursday 30th April 2015 - entries received after this time will not be considered.
Judging
Entries will be short-listed within each award category for consideration by a panel of judges,
Finalists will be notified (and asked to submit any additional supporting information required, e.g. quotes, photographs, etc.) during the week beginning 4th May 2015.
Each Excellence Award will recognise both the school/cluster and the partner employer(s) involved.
Highly commended certificates will be awarded to all short-listed nominees.
The winning entry will receive a commemorative trophy for the school/cluster and the partner involved.
‘Angus Partners in Learning’
If there is an employer/organisation/individual who does not quite meet the criteria of an Excellence Award, but who you feel deserves recognition for the work they have been undertaking in an Angus school over the last 12 months, they can be acknowledged as an ‘Angus Partner in Learning’ (Submissions for which should be made using the separate ‘Partners in Learning’ form available from Lesley Watson).
‘Angus Partner in Learning’ certificates shall also be awarded to all those employers unsuccessful in being short-listed for a 2014/15 Partnership Excellence Award. Although not formally presented on the evening special mention will be made to each of the ‘Angus Partners in Learning’ during the Partnership Recognition Event.
The Awards Event
Excellence Award winners will be announced and celebrated at the Partnership Recognition Event, to be held at Carnoustie Golf Hotel on Tuesday 16th June 2015, 4.00pm – 6.30pm.
Formal invitations to attend will be sent out in due course, but please mark this date in your diary now.
If submitting a nomination, it is advisable to communicate this to partners and make them aware of this date, and the potential requirement to attend.
Further information
If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact:
Lesley Watson, Business Liaison Officer
Angus Council, Schools & Learning - People Directorate
Angus House, Orchardbank Business Park, Forfar, Angus, DD8 1AE
Tel: 01307 476443. Email: WatsonL@angus.gov.uk
