South Staffordshire College Marketing Team celebrates double award win at FE First Awards
Feburary 2026
South Staffordshire College is celebrating after its Marketing Team secured two awards at this year’s prestigious FE First Awards 2026.
The Marketing Team proudly took home silver in the Internal Impact category, an award that recognises outstanding work in strengthening communication, engagement, and culture within an organisation. This category highlights initiatives that make a measurable difference to staff experience and internal collaboration.
The judges described the team’s Internal Impact submission as an “exemplar entry, praising its strategic clarity, outstanding objectives, and the measurable difference it has made to staff experience. They highlighted the project’s HR and Marketing team collaboration as sector‑leading and noted that no areas for improvement were identified—a rare commendation that highlights the exceptional quality of the work. The panel encouraged the team to share its approach as best practice across the FE sector”.
The celebrations continued as the Marketing Team was awarded another silver within the Small Marketing Team of the Year category, recognising their exceptional results, creativity, and strategic impact despite operating as a small, agile department.
Hannah James, Director of Commercial, Marketing and Events, said “This double award win means so much to us as a team. We work incredibly hard to champion the college, support staff and students, and deliver meaningful communications, so to have that recognised at the FE First Awards is really rewarding.”
Hosted by the College Marketing Network, the FE First Awards are the only national awards dedicated exclusively to recognising excellence in Further Education marketing. This year’s ceremony, held at the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham, brought together leading colleges and sixth forms from across the country to celebrate innovation, creativity, and impact in marketing teams working within the FE sector.
The awards evening was hosted by broadcaster Ed James, who not only fronts the mid‑morning show on BBC WM but also serves as a Deputy Lieutenant for the West Midlands.
