LSIS is pleased to announce the launch of STAR awards 2010. STAR awards recognise the achievements of the outstanding individuals and unsung heroes of the learning and skills sector. We’re looking for people who are really making a difference, to their learners, and to their colleagues, people who have that extra-special ‘wow’ factor.

STAR awards are open to anyone working in the learning and skills sector, in an organisation which receives funding from the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) or the Young People’s Learning Agency (YPLA): colleges, work-based learning providers, adult and community learning providers, offender learning establishments, and specialist designated institutions. If you work in this amazing and dynamic sector, you’re eligible to nominate, and to be nominated. (People who work in a school or a university are not eligible for these awards. The person you are nominating must not be a member of your family.)

The closing date for nominations is the 9th July 2010 and the awards will be held in London on 24th November.

The nomination categories and criteria can be found using this link STAR Criteria 2010.

If you’d like to nominate someone, or a team, please use the online form. 

Future of STAR Awards secured from 2011

TSL Education and LSIS announced today that TSL Education will take over the running of the STAR Awards, the annual celebration of achievements in the lifelong learning and skills sector, from 2011.  TSL Education will take over the awards from the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS).  LSIS will continue to host this year's awards ceremony in November, working in partnership with TSL Education who will be the media partner for the awards.

This announcement will complement TSL Education's annual TES and THE awards which celebrate the achievements of the schools and higher education communities.

David Collins, LSIS's Chief Executive, said "Not only does this agreement secure the long term future of the awards with its recognition for both the best in the sector and its unsung heroes but it also marks the coming of age of the STAR awards, becoming a mainstream awards ceremony run by a leading player in the education media rather than by a public body. It shows that the learning and skills sector is no longer the "Cinderella sector" but of equal weight to schools and HE."

Louise Rogers, Chief Executive of TSL Education, said "Our THE and TES Schools Awards have proved a huge hit with teachers, lecturers and support staff.  We are delighted to be able to raise the status of the learning and skills sector by securing the future of the STAR awards.  We hope to take the awards to a new level to ensure that the sector enjoys an annual event alongside those enjoyed by schools and higher education, and to continue recognising the achievements of all those working in the sector."

Alan Thomson, Editor of TSL Education's FE Focus publication, said: "Our aim is to give further education and skills, and the people who work in it, the national recognition, reward and voice they deserve."