NSCG celebrates Apprenticeships and Skills Awards Nominees
20 October 2026
On Thursday 8th October, two members of the Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) community attended the West Midlands regional finals for the Apprenticeships and Skills Awards 2026.
Legal T Level student Mia Howard was in the running for T Level Student of the Year and Selina Rudzik, placement officer at NSCG, was shortlisted for T Level Employer of the Year with her business Recruitment Robin.
While Mia and Selina will not be progressing to the national finals next month, NSCG is incredibly proud of their individual journeys and their incredible contributions to both the NSCG community and technical education learning.
Dawn Helsby, from Schneider Electric, works closely with the College to provide work placements, and strives to advocate for skills-based learning, was shortlisted for the Skills Champion Award. After a successful evening at the regional heats, she will now be progressing to the national finals, where her dedication to technical education and the way it has fundamentally reshaped the landscape for T Levels and Apprenticeships across the UK will be celebrated.
Her impact is perhaps most visible in her extraordinary leadership within the T Level Ambassador Network. Dawn has been truly inspirational in mobilising over 1,000 T Level Ambassadors, bridging the gap between the Department for Education, providers, and industry. By fostering this massive network, she has ensured that thousands of young people have a clear, supported pathway into high-skilled careers.
Beyond high-level strategy, Dawn is a champion for diversity in technical fields. She has been instrumental in delivering STEM summer camps for young females, providing the hands-on experience and mentorship necessary to break down barriers in engineering and technology. Her work ensures the next generation of talent is as diverse as the industries they will enter.
Awards such as these champion career-focused and vocational education and highlight the efforts of providers like NSCG, who along with its partners strive to provide the highest quality of work-based learning by working closely with employers and placement providers to empower the next generation of professionals.