Ayrshire College success at Bridge 2 Business Enterprise Awards
An Ayrshire College lecturer has been awarded the Further Education College Enterprise Educator award at the Bridge 2 Business Educator Awards, while one of its students earned the Local Hero of the Year award at the ceremony.
The awards ceremony took place online on Thursday 3 June during Young Enterprise Scotland’s virtual Festival of Youth Enterprise.
Bridge 2 Business is a Young Enterprise Scotland programme designed to inspire, connect and support college students into business. The Bridge 2 Business awards celebrates the hard-working and enterprising efforts of students, lecturers, and colleges in Scotland.
Music and Sound Production lecturer John McBlain won the award for the outstanding work he has done for his students throughout a difficult year.
He has established a successful podcast – Rockpool Podcasts – which provides an opportunity for Music and Sound Productions students at all levels to showcase their talents.
The podcast project covers units in the course curriculum and gives students an opportunity to express themselves and gain lifelong skills. Students record, interview, edit, produce, publish and promote full episodes that can be listened to on Spotify.
John has also been working as a Blended Learning Facilitator at Ayrshire College, helping staff and students across the College with any concerns with working from home.
John said: “The past year presented many challenges for educators, however I decided to harness my skills to provide continuity and innovation for the benefit of my learners and colleagues. I’d like to say thanks you to my colleague’s in the Music and Sound Production department and wider Ayrshire College community. And finally, my students, for all their hard work, resilience and creativity over the past year.”
Photography student Jamie Agnew, owner of Jamie Agnew Photography, won the Local Hero of the Year Award. Jamie said “I’m absolutely thrilled to be accepting this award. To have been recognised is truly an honour.”
Two other Ayrshire College representatives were finalists at the awards - student Anya Rae in the Bridge 2 Business Innovation Award category and student Clare McCamon for the Enterprising Student of the Year award.
Ayrshire College offers all of its students the opportunity to learn enterprise and business skills no matter what course they are on. Students have the opportunity to apply for up to £5,000 worth of grants for a business start-up or development of an existing business through the Enterprising Students Fund.
Stuart Millar, Head of Apprenticeships and Work-Based Learning at Ayrshire College, said: “Small businesses are the lifeblood of the Scottish and Ayrshire economy and the College supports many students to set up their own successful enterprise through the Enterprising Students Fund. I was delighted to see the hard work of John and Jamie being recognised by Young Enterprise Scotland. This continued support by college staff and former students will undoubtedly inspire more of our current students to achieve future business success.”
Find out more about the Enterprising Students Fund here
Listen to Rockpool Podcasts here
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