Published on: 5 December 2025
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust is delighted to celebrate the news that North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSLC) has been named a finalist in the Association of Colleges (AoC) Beacon Awards for The City & Guilds Award for College Engagement with Employers.
Revealed this week at the AoC Annual Conference, this achievement recognises the college’s outstanding strategic partnership with George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, which is helping to address critical healthcare workforce shortages in Nuneaton and the wider region.
Through this innovative collaboration, NWSLC and George Eliot Hospital have developed a comprehensive education and training offer that includes apprenticeships, functional skills, digital skills, supported internships, T Level industry placements and AI training – all tailored to meet the evolving needs of the NHS.
Located on the outskirts of Nuneaton, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust serves a population of more than 300,000 people across North Warwickshire, South West Leicestershire and North Coventry. As the area’s largest employer, with over 2,600 staff, the hospital plays a vital role in the local economy and community.
Programmes are delivered flexibly, both on-site and at NWSLC campuses, ensuring accessibility for NHS staff working a range of shift patterns. The partnership also includes supported internships, creating inclusive pathways for students with special educational needs and disabilities to gain valuable experience in healthcare environments.
Ashi Williams, Chief People Officer at George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and South Warwickshire University Foundation Trust said: “We are excited to hear that the work between George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and NWSLC has been recognised nationally.
“Our partnership with NWSLC offers opportunities not only to our existing workforce, through Apprenticeships and Functional skills, but also to the workforce of tomorrow, through T-Levels and Supported Internships. Local partnerships like this are key in ensuring that the hospital and NWSLC can support the communities and people that we are proud to serve.”
To date, around 250 students and employees have participated in the initiative, resulting in measurable improvements in staff confidence, retention and patient care. The collaboration is deeply embedded in both organisations’ strategic planning and has been further strengthened through joint recruitment events and the creation of a dedicated training suite at the hospital.
This model of employer–college engagement demonstrates scalable, inclusive and impactful practice for the wider FE sector, delivering tangible benefits to NHS employers and the local community.
Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Principal and Chief Executive of NWSLC said: “We are thrilled to have been named a finalist in the AoC Beacon Awards. This recognition reflects the strength of our partnership with George Eliot Hospital and our shared commitment to developing a skilled, confident and inclusive workforce that meets the needs of our local NHS and wider healthcare sector.”
The winners of the AoC Beacon Awards will be announced in early 2026.