10th Anniversary Celebrations of Staffordshire Day

The annual celebration took place on Friday 1st May and provided an opportunity to highlight everything that makes Staffordshire a fantastic place to live, learn and work, with students and staff across NSCG coming together to showcase their pride in the local area.

As part of the day’s national activity, NSCG was represented at a prestigious event at the House of Commons, joining We Are Staffordshire and a select group of partners to promote the county on a national stage. The College was one of only a small number of exhibitors invited to represent Staffordshire’s ambitions in the heart of Westminster.

During the visit, Vice Principal for the Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Georgina Barnard, took part in a Parliamentary Roundtable on Skills hosted by Gareth Snell. The discussion focused on the importance of vocational education in driving regional economic growth and supporting future workforce development.

Closer to home, NSCG played a key role in the Staffordshire Day Staffy Trail, taking part in the official unveiling of its student-designed sculpture. Created in collaboration with local artist Lynne Hollingsworth, the sculpture was developed from initial concept through to completion by NSCG students, responding to a creative brief centred on “active, energy and adventure” to reflect the outdoor-led identity of Trentham Estate.

Now installed near Stoke-on-Trent railway station, the sculpture will form part of the Staffy Trail for 10 weeks before moving to its permanent home at the Trentham Estate, which purchased the final piece. The project has provided students with valuable real-world experience, showcasing their creativity, collaboration and technical skills.

Students and staff also embraced the celebrations on campus, enjoying a taste of local tradition with Staffordshire lobby served in the College’s food hall, bringing a well-loved regional dish into the heart of the day’s activities.