College Partnership Enters as a Top Finalist in FAB Award Category

Occupational Awards Ltd - or OAL – a body that oversees Bournemouth and Poole College Marine apprenticeship training, has entered into a partnership with the college to become an entrant to the Federation of Awarding Body (FAB) Awards. The final study module at Bournemouth and Poole College for the ‘End Point Assessment’ (EPA), which is awarded via OAL, has now been shortlisted for the FAB Awards. The partnership between OAL and the college has now made the grade in the final four. 

The college’s finalist entry is under the category of: Awarding Organisation/Provider Relationship of the Year, along with other partnership finalists to include: Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) and Mindful Education, FutureQuals and the Chichester College Group and Swim England Qualifications and the Institute of Swimming. 

Now in its 9th year, the FAB 2024 Awards, sponsored by rigorous testing development company PSI, will be held on 25th November, following the first day of the FAB Conference held in Leicester.

The entry for Group 2 – Engage: is for: “Celebrating those who have created meaningful connections and engagement within the industry. Their dedication to collaboration has taken education and skills to new heights.” 
 

The award entry states that: “Although Bournemouth and Poole College had exploratory conversations at various events and meetings, no formal relationship was developed until OAL were asked to develop assessments for the Boatbuilder, Marina & Boatyard Operative and Marine Engineer standards (affectionately known as the marine standards)”. 

In the entry, it also acknowledges: Bournemouth & Poole College (BPC), were quickly impressed by OAL’s speed and quality of work but were even more impressed by the human face they brought to EPA.” Further: they were regularly in touch with BPC and the other providers, delivering the marine standards, to check that their interpretation was as closely aligned to our as possible. It was clear OAL always had the interests of the apprentices at heart, as they worked closely with Bournemouth and Poole College and IfATE to ensure that the apprentices, closest to gateway, would not be disadvantaged by the previous End Point Assessment Objectives (EPAOs) challenges and how they had, in some cases, erroneously interpreted the assessment plan. It was very apparent that OAL’s unofficial moniker as “the people’s EPAO” was well merited.

Commenting on the awards, John McNamara, Interim Chief Executive of the Federation of Awarding Bodies said: "We are delighted to have once again received a remarkable number of high-quality nominations for the esteemed FAB 2024 Awards. Earning a spot at the FAB Awards is a significant achievement, and I congratulate all finalists and wish them the best of luck.”

OAL’s Partnership Director, Lee Reddington said: “I have been working closely with Antony, Craig and the rest of the team at Bournemouth and Poole College, for the past two years. In that time we have developed an excellent partnership, working together proactively and collaboratively for the benefit of the Boatbuilding and Marine sector, to give the apprentices and employers in the sector the best possible experience and the greatest chance of success. Being nominated as finalists at the FAB awards, gives me a sense of pride and accomplishment as it acknowledges the hard work we have all put in, to ensure that the marine industry as the skilled workforce it needs to move into the future.”

Bournemouth and Poole College Executive Director of Higher Education and Skills added: “What a great result for us to be put forward as a finalist for the FAB Awards. We’ve worked hard with many of our executive partnerships over the past few years and to be a final entrant in the awards is an important step forward for us. We obviously hope to win and it will be great to be a part of the event.”