SERC Excellence Awards 2025
Students, staff, friends and family alongside special guests and local dignitaries gathered at SERC Lisburn, Bangor, and Downpatrick campuses in April, to celebrate the best of the college community at the SERC Excellence Awards 2025.
Guests were welcomed with a reception and refreshments, offering the opportunity to mingle and for informal photographs. Each ceremony opened with a short film showcasing excellence at SERC before the awards were presented to students and staff.
Following the presentations, the Vote of Thanks at each ceremony was given by Chris Bruton, SERC Student Governor.
Lisburn and Ballynahinch
Sponsored by SSE Airtricity
The first Excellence Awards ceremony was held at Lisburn Campus on 1 April Master of Ceremonies was Derek Wilson, SERC Governor, and the evening celebrated achievements in Lisburn and Ballynahinch Campuses.
Guests included The Right Worshipful Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Councillor Kurtis Dickson.
The college was delighted to have headline sponsorship from SSE Airtricity, who also sponsored the Apprentice of the Year award category. Other awards were generously sponsored by Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council (Entrepreneur of the Year) Drayne's (Community Champion of the Year) and Greenview (Trainee of the Year).
Certificates, trophies and prizes were presented by John Nugent, Chair of SERC Governing Body.
Bangor, Newtownards and Holywood
Sponsored by SSE Airtricity
Awards for students and staff based at Bangor, Holywood and Newtownards Campuses were presented at SERC Bangor Campus on 3 April by Tommy Martin, SERC Principal and Chief Executive.
SERC Governor Michael McQuillan took on the Master of Ceremonies role and guests included the Mayor of Ards and North Down Borough Council, Councillor Alistair Cathcart.
SERC is grateful for headline sponsorship from SSE Airtricity, who also sponsored the Apprentice of the Year award, while other sponsorship came from Ards and North Down Borough Council for the Entrepreneur of the Year, UK Healthcare for the Community Champion, and ASOS for the FE Student of the Year award.
Downpatrick and Newcastle
Sponsored by Newry Mourne and Down District Labour Market Partnership
Guests included Newry, Mourne & Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Pete Byrne. Awards were presented by John Nugent, SERC Governing Body Chair, and Catherine McKay, SERC Governor, took on the MC role.
The college was delighted that Newry Mourne and Down District Labour Market Partnership sponsored the event, and the award for Apprentice of the Year; thanks are also due to category sponsors SSE Airtricity (Trainee of the Year) and UK Healthcare (Community Champion).
Special achievement certificates were presented to 20 students from the Paraibo region of Brazil, who have been studying English and participating in a wide variety of cultural activities with SERC for the past eight weeks.