Ayrshire College has been named as a finalist in the 2023 Bridge 2 Business Enterprise Awards.

The college has been recognised as leading the way in enterprise within Scotland’s further education system, with a nomination in the Enterprising College of the Year award category.

There are two further nominations for Ayrshire College, with music, performance and media lecturer John McBlain looking to win his third successive Bridge 2 Business award. John is nominated in the College Enterprise Champion category. 

Elsewhere the Ayrshire College-affiliated podcast Rockpool Podcasts has been nominated for the Social Enterprise Award.

Ayrshire College works alongside Bridge 2 Business with their innovative Enterprising Students Fund, funded through the Ayrshire College Foundation.

Any Ayrshire College student with their own business can apply for a grant worth up to £5,000. A Bridge 2 Business Programme Executive also provides students with support in developing business plans and one-to-one sessions.

Ayrshire College has had success in previous years at the Bridge 2 Business Enterprise awards, with lecturer John McBlain winning FE College Enterprise Educator of the Year for the past two years.

Former sport and fitness student Lucy Thomson, known throughout Ayrshire as Coach Lucy, won the Local Hero of the Year Award in 2020, with former complementary therapies student Fi Thorburn earning Highly Commended recognition in the Enterprising Student of the Year Award at the same ceremony.

The 2023 Bridge 2 Business Enterprise Awards ceremony takes place on Thursday, May 11 at Glasgow Clyde College.