WARRINGTON Collegiate has become the first college of further education in the country to secure an award which recognises excellence in the delivery of information, advice and guidance.

The Collegiate's Learner Services team won the matrix Excellence Award at a ceremony in London hosted by the Minister for Skills and Vocational Education, Ivan Lewis. Actress Maureen Lipman presented the awards.

In all, 85 organisations from across England and Northern Ireland had been entered for an excellence award.

Pat Kitto, the Collegiate's Director of Lifelong Learning and External Affairs, was at the ceremony. She says: "We are over the moon about this award. It recognises the high standard of information, advice and guidance offered by our Learner Services team. The whole matrix process has really pulled everyone together and it couldn't have been achieved without the commitment of our Principal Paul Hafren and support from the students".

Paul Hafren also praises the team. The Collegiate's Principal says: "This is an acknowledgment of the great work Learner Services does for students and how well the team is led by Nicola Meredith. It demonstrates the strength of commitment we have to our students by offering top quality, impartial advice. We are delighted that we are the first college of further education in the country to win this award. It has been a tough process to emerge successfully from".

Head of Learner Services, Nicola Meredith, says she was delighted and thrilled when the Collegiate was presented with the award.

"Our learners, both existing and new, are at the very heart of all that we do. This excellence award will reassure our students that we provide the highest quality IAG service for them. We have been particularly praised for our impartiality and the number of referrals we make to external agencies and other providers, which I am told, is rare in a college of further education".

Anne Petry, Director of Skills for the Cheshire and Warrington Learning and Skills Council - which funds IAG services - says: "The LSC congratulates Warrington Collegiate on getting this award. Good quality advice is crucial in the development of people's skills".