This year’s brilliant SAR Day – thank you!
This week we came together in Plymouth for our latest Self-Assessment Review (SAR) Day. It was a welcome opportunity to reconnect across centres, share expertise, reflect on our achievements and celebrate the colleagues who make Focus what it is.
Our self-assessment is about recognising what we do well, being open about what needs to improve and turning those insights into better experiences for learners and employers. Just as importantly, the day was about people. Thank you to everyone who organised, presented, facilitated workshops, travelled and took part.
Celebrating our Focus Spotlight Awards
A highlight of the day was recognising colleagues whose commitment, creativity and care make a real difference. Congratulations to our award winners and everyone nominated. Recognition from colleagues is particularly meaningful.
Inclusion Champion
- Winner: Kim Shepheard
- Nominees (Runners up): Lisa May, Mike Lewis
Assessor of the Year
- Winner: Wayne Gibson
- Nominees (Runners up): Lea Petheridge, Sam Bell
Rising Star in Focus
- Winner: Lisa May
- Nominees (Runners up): Alice Gascoigne, Caroline Tothill
Tech Champion
- Winner: Chay Haley
- Nominees (Runners up): Caroline Tothill, Darren Douthwaite, Sam Bell, Lisa May, Mike Lewis
Tutor of the Year
- Winner: Neil Allen
- Nominees (Runners up): Caroline Tothill, Neil Hodges
Employer Champion
- Winner: Drew Tombs
- Nominees (Runners up): Lauren-Jade Brock, Scott Ward
Business Support Team Member of the Year
- Winner: Lisa May
- Nominees (Runners up): Holly Castle, Paul Thompson
Team Member of the Year
- Winner: Lisa May
- Nominees (Runners up): Jess Miners, Wayne Gibson
Leader of the Year
- Winner: Mark Down
- Nominees (Runners up): Marc Jones, Paul Thompson
CPD Champion
- Winner: Jess Miners
- Nominees (Runners up): Kim Shepheard, Sam Honey
Celebrating long service
We also took time to thank colleagues who have given many years of dedication to Focus. Their contribution is measured not just in years, but in learners supported, employers helped, colleagues mentored and the expertise they have shared.
- Sam Bell: 9 years
- Matthew Booth: 9 years
- Lauren-Jade Brock: 7 years
- Glenn Cresser: 5 years
- Louis Dickinson: 6 years
- Marc Jones: 8 years
- Heidi Kelly: 5 years
- Adam Sheldon: 5 years
- Reece Mayho: 5 years
- Jessica Miners: 9 years
- Kim Shepheard: 7 years
- Christopher Souness: 6 years
- Scott Ward: 8 years
- Barbara Wildman: 9 years
- Trevor Barnes: 11 years
- Holly Castle-Floyd: 11 years
- Wayne Gibson: 13 years
- Christopher Linder: 10 years
- Drew Tombs: 13 years
- Nicola Venn: 13 years
- Mark Down: 16 years
- Michael Lewis: 19 years
- Lynda Barenskie: 23 years
- Paul Thompson: 22 years
- Fay Huddy: 30 years
To everyone who made the day possible: thank you. To our award winners, nominees and long-serving colleagues: congratulations. There is much ahead of us, and plenty to be proud of!