Open Awards

“Education should be open to everyone who has the capability and the desire to learn.” – Julie Wilson, University of Liverpool

From mature student to Open Awards’ team member to Trustee, Julie Wilson reflects upon her personal relationship with Open Awards as we celebrate 45 years

Swipe across to hear her journey and celebrate with us.

Are you a forestry works manager without a formal qualification?

Recognise your experience with our Level 4 Experienced Worker Assessment for Forestry Works Manager.

This assessment process includes:
✅ Self-submission of evidence
✅ Two-stage assessment

Next steps?
Find out more: https://silvestor.org.uk/fwm/routes

Forestry Commission Institute of Chartered Foresters

📣 Access to HE matters and not just for adult learners!

Last week we were shocked to hear that some Access to HE Diplomas are being defunded for 16 to 19-year-olds.

Our CEO, Heather Akehurst discusses:
📌 The impact on learners
📌 The difference between Access to HE and V levels
📌 How Access to HE widens participation
📌 How it supports the economy

Read the full article on FE news:
https://www.fenews.co.uk/exclusive/defunding-access-to-he-diplomas-for-16-to-19-year-olds-is-a-mistake/

🎓 New Access to HE units approved for delivery from 2026/27

We’re pleased to share our newly approved Access to HE units for delivery from 2026/27.

This expanded unit offer gives providers greater flexibility when designing programmes and supports clear progression across a wide range of subject areas, including healthcare, counselling, science, engineering and professional practice. The units have been approved for embedding across multiple Access to HE Diplomas and are ready to support curriculum planning for the year ahead.

Take a look through the carousel to explore how the new units can enhance your Access to HE provision.

To find out more, get in touch with the Access to HE team today ⬇️
[email protected]

The celebrity Traitors has nothing on the Open Awards team 👀

To celebrate our 45th birthday and , we transformed the Open Awards office into the Traitors castle for our annual staff development days.

Organised by our very own Claudia (aka Heather), our hybrid team came together only to be torn apart by a series of epic missions and intense roundtables.

Our hyper-competitive team took the challenge very seriously but ultimately failed to root out the pesky traitors.

Alongside the chaos and conspiracy, our staff development days also included:
🛡️ Team training sessions
🛡️ Staff award ceremony
🛡️ Creative games
🛡️ The Open Awards sharing lunch

A huge thank you to our incredible team who continue to make Open Awards what it is. Here’s to 45 years of impact and many more to come.

Celebrating Access to HE Diplomas!

Yesterday, our Director of Quality and Standards, Richard Spencer had the honour of representing Open Awards at the Keith Fletcher Awards at the Houses of Parliament.

The event recognised the outstanding achievements of Access to HE learners whose dedication and hard work have helped them take the next step in their education.

Congratulations to this year’s award recipients:
🏆 Catherine Hennessy
🏆 Jake Anderson
🏆 Nia Mack
🏆 Amy Bartlett

We’re proud to celebrate the impact of Access to HE Diplomas and the opportunities they create for learners across the UK.

Collaboration is key for numeracy!

This National Numeracy Day, Kay Taylor (EQA for Functional Skills Qualifications) celebrates the power of learning together.

Whether it’s:
📊 colleagues working through data tasks
🏡 parents using maths in everyday moments
📚 teachers building confidence in the classroom

Every conversation and shared experience can help make maths feel more accessible.

Functional Skills Maths plays an important role in helping learners develop practical skills for life and work and community support can make all the difference along the way.

Read the full article on our website:
➡️ https://openawards.org.uk/collaboration-is-key-on-national-numeracy-day/
Find out how Functional Skills maths can support your learners:
➡️https://openawards.org.uk/functional-skills/

We’re looking for a Finance and Resources Assistant to join the Open Awards team

If you’re organised, detail-focused and enjoy a varied role, this could be the perfect opportunity to develop your career in a supportive and purpose-driven organisation.

From finance queries and invoicing to banking and purchase ledger responsibilities, no two days are the same.

📍 Hybrid working based in Liverpool
💼 Full-time, permanent
💷 £26,395 salary

Join a team that’s passionate about making education and opportunity accessible for all.

Find out more and apply here: https://openawards.org.uk/jobs/finance-and-resources-assistant/

Our team will be taking part in staff training and development days from 19–21 May 📚

As we invest time in learning, collaboration and professional development, our response times may be a little slower than usual during this period.

We appreciate your patience and understanding

“Having been in operation for nearly half a century, this further amplifies the longevity and positive impact your organisation has had in the FE and Skills sector.” – Simon Ashworth

As our birthday approaches, we’re continuing our 45th birthday celebrations with a quote from Simon Ashworth, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Policy at Association of Employment and Learning Providers - AELP .

We’re proud to have supported learners, providers and employers for 45 years through qualifications, access to higher education and apprenticeship end-point assessment, helping create opportunities and progression across the sector.

Thank you, Simon, for your kind words and continued support as we celebrate this milestone year. 🎉

🎉 Learner celebration: Level 3 Occupational Health Technician 🎉

This , we’re highlighting the importance of wellbeing at work by showcasing the incredible work of Occupational Health Technicians.

Focused on both physical and mental health, Occupational Health Technicians play an important role in supporting employee wellbeing and promoting safe working environments.

These learner testimonies from EOPH highlight the importance of supporting the wellbeing of everyone in the workplace.

From reflective practice to continuous learning, it’s inspiring to see learners growing into roles that make a real difference to workplace wellbeing.

Swipe through to hear directly from the learners themselves ➡️

Find out more about our Level 3 Occupational Health Technician qualification: https://openawards.org.uk/qualifications/open-awards-level-3-certificate-for-occupational-health-technicians-rqf/