The prestigious Lion Awards ceremony took place last night at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. The annual awards are the culmination of City & Guilds Medals for Excellence programme, which has been running for 130 years and aims to reward talented educational professionals and students who display exceptional standards and whose achievements put them ahead of the competition.

This year a total of 98 Medals for Excellence were awarded to learners, lecturers and external verifiers. All the winners attended a regional presentation ceremony in addition to being invited to celebrate their achievements together at the Lion Awards dinner.

A further nine awards were presented on the night to the highest achievers in the following categories: Outstanding Achiever of the Year, Innovator of the Year, Small Business Learner of the Year, Community Supporter of the Year, International Learner of the Year, Employee Learner of the Year, Creative Craftsperson of the Year, Lifelong Learner of the Year and FE Sector Learner of the Year.

Over 450 guests from education and industry celebrated in style at the event.  Among those in attendance were guest speaker Marcus Wareing, himself a former City & Guilds award winner and now a two Michelin-starred chef and one of the brightest stars in British cooking. He described the vital role City & Guilds qualifications played at the start of his career and encouraged all the winners to make the most of their fantastic achievement.

Chris Jones, Director-General of City & Guilds, added:

‘The Medals for Excellence Programme aims to embody our values in striving for excellence, rewarding success and most of all we hope the skills you have developed through your City & Guilds qualification equips you to fulfil your true potential.

‘The Lion Awards celebrate the best of the best and set the benchmark of excellence for all learners and lecturers to aspire to.’    

ENDS

Media enquiries:
Phillipa Thomas at City & Guilds phillipa.thomas@cityandguilds.com T: +44 (0) 20 7294 3437

Notes to Editors:

City & Guilds is the expert and leading authority in vocational education and training – both in the UK and beyond.

City & Guilds Medals for Excellence 2009 were awarded to 98 people (learners, lecturers and City & Guilds verifiers) who specialise in a broad range of subjects from management and IT to care and creative studies.

In operation since 1878, City & Guilds is the UK’s leading awarding body for work-related qualifications. Twenty million people in the UK have City & Guilds qualifications, and the organisation awards a further 2.2 million qualifications to learners every year.

2009 Winners:

• Outstanding Achiever of the Year - Dineaton Levy (North Hertfordshire College, Hitchen)
  The youngest of our Lion Award winners this year, 17-year-old Dineaton has turned his life around to become a success. He was referred to North Hertfordshire College for a Year 11 alternative education programme due to his exclusion from school and has since excelled in his Preparing for Employment qualification, impressing his tutors and inspiring his peers along the way.
• Community Supporter of the Year - Hayley Sargent (Southern Regional College, Northern Ireland)
  Hayley was based at Mourne Grange, a centre housing 140 people including those with special needs in a co-operative community, while achieving her NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care. Her motivation and high level of commitment singled her out and she was invited to speak at the Southern Regional College Conference about her experiences. She lives in Co. Down. 
• Creative Craftsperson of the Year - Jane Bowman (Peterborough Regional College)
  Jane worked as an auctioneer for twelve years before getting married and moving to South Lincolnshire to raise her family. Embarking on a City & Guilds diploma in Design and Craft allowed Jane to develop her creative flair and her plans for the future include setting up her own business as a wedding cake designer, travelling with her family and learning to speak Italian.
• Employee Learner of the Year - Donna Louise Jackson (North Lindsay College, Scunthorpe)
  Donna’s interest in motorcycles led her to begin an apprenticeship at Corus, where she now works as a 4th year Structural Apprentice. She has balanced her dyslexia and working in a traditionally male-dominated environment to gain a NVQ Level 3 in Fabrication and Welding and aims to complete a foundation degree in Manufacturing Engineering. She won the Outstanding Achievement Award from her college in both the first and second year of her apprenticeship.
• FE Sector Learner of the Year - Oscar Holgado (South Downs College, Hampshire)
  Oscar joined Gordon Ramsey Holdings after completing his NVQ Level 3 in Professional Cookery at South Downs College and now works as a commis chef at Murano by Angela Hartnett. During his studies he also worked with Heston Blumenthal at The Fat Duck and was named Student of the Year by his college and Young Chef of the Year at the Emsworth Food Festival. Oscar also received an additional two accolades at this year’s Lion Awards from The Worshipful Company of Cooks’ and The Savoy Educational Trust.
• Innovator of the Year - Deirdre Earle (Summerhill College, Co Westmeath)
  Deirdre previously worked as a buyer for an art shop and a lighting and interior design consultant before returning to education so she could open her own playschool. She lives in Athlone with her husband and three children.
• International Learner of the Year - Elesha Stoney (New Zealand)
  Elesha obtained her Certificate in Reception Operations and Services at the Eastern Institute of Technology, New Zealand. Elesha’s mature approach to learning at a young age set her apart as she balanced her studies with pregnancy to maintain her focus on achieving professional front-of-house and restaurant service. Her future plans include a hotel management diploma, but for now her main focus is her baby daughter.  
• Lifelong Learner of the Year - Liesbeth Williams (Coleg Menai, Bangor)
  Liesbeth originally trained as a teacher, but has always had a strong interest in textiles and design. She was apprentice to a French weaver and dyer and ran her own weaving centre while raising her four children. Liesbeth now works for Welsh publisher Llyfrau Magma, who has sponsored her through all her City & Guilds courses.
• Small Business Learner of the Year - Geraldine Byrne (Southern Regional College, Northern Ireland)
  Geraldine is a full-time hairdresser and runs her own hair and nail salon in Rathfriland. She has over 20 years experience in the industry and has introduced training nights in her salon for all her staff. She is married with three young children.