On a crisp December afternoon at the end of term, the staff of South Bank Colleges gathered in the sports hall at Clapham Common to celebrate the achievements of their colleagues at the annual Staff Awards Lunch. This year’s event also doubled as the staff Christmas party, adding a festive touch to the occasion. With attendees from the Clapham, Nine Elms, and Brixton campuses, the sports hall was transformed into a space filled with warmth, camaraderie, and celebration.

The event began with a delicious festive lunch, complete with seasonal favourites and plenty of sweet treats to go around, all served to those present by the college's directors and senior staff. The hall was adorned with Christmas decorations, creating a cheerful atmosphere that reflected the spirit of the season. Balloons in pastel shades added a touch of whimsy, while a large Christmas tree twinkled in the corner, setting the stage for a memorable afternoon.

Celebrating Excellence

The highlight of the afternoon was the awards ceremony, where the achievements of staff members across the college’s three campuses were celebrated. The awards recognised contributions in a variety of categories, including the “Big Impression” award, the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Award, Individual Achievement, and Outstanding Contribution to Staff.

Screens placed prominently on the stage displayed the longlists and winners for each award category. The audience cheered as the names of nominees appeared on the screens, and the winners were announced to resounding applause.

Here are some of the award highlights:

The "Big Impression" Award

This award celebrated individuals who made a significant impact within their teams and departments. Each campus had its own set of nominees, showcasing the breadth of talent across South Bank Colleges.

• Nine Elms Campus Nominees: Blanca Perez, Daniel King, Jim Crowley, Santiago Velez, Maria Valencia, and Daniel King.

• SBC Nominees: Alicia Maker, Claudia Forbes, Mari Wright-Grant, Kamisha Acheampong, Kerry Owen, and Andrea Walcott.

• Lambeth College Nominees: Abigail Hall, Jack McCay, Sandra Brouet, and Tyeeba Sharif.

• Winner for Lambeth College: Abigail Hall.

• Winner for SBC: Claudia Forbes.

The Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Award

This category recognised individuals who championed inclusivity and diversity within the college community. Each campus had an inspiring list of nominees:

• Nine Elms Campus Nominees: Evgenia Douvi, Ross Gouldie, and Alan Hegarty.

• Winner for Nine Elms Campus: Ross Gouldie.

• Lambeth College Nominees: Dao Ta, Jack McCay, Ayesha Osborne, and Alma Alia.

• SBC Nominees: Donna Webster, Amanda Hughes, Miranda Quammie, Trevor Gordon, Haajir Hecht, and Collete Murray.

Individual Achievement

This award celebrated exceptional personal contributions and achievements:

• Nine Elms Campus Nominees: Daniel King, Tom Jones, and Alan Hegarty.

• Lambeth College Nominees: Alma Alia, Jack McCay, and Monika Zaba.

• SBC Nominees: Donna Webster, Kalysta Gates, Michelle Lawrence, Romario Grant, Sarah Grint, Jack Sharman, and Marisa Ferguson.

Outstanding Contribution to Staff

This special category honoured individuals who went above and beyond to support their colleagues and the wider college community. Nominees included:

• Lambeth College Nominees: Bukola Boshorin, Matthew Calvert, Jack McCay & Gail Sterling-Newman, and Tatiana Correia.

• Nine Elms Campus Nominees: Aishe Rexhepi, Feysal Igal, Mariutxy Cadavid, Mark Horton, Sage Khan, and Alan Hegarty.

• Winner for SBC: Elia Roque.

• Winner for Nine Elms Campus: Mariutxy Cadavid.

Outstanding Contribution to Students

This award acknowledged those who made a significant impact on student life:

• SBC Nominees: Canisia Nthahbisengmoloi, Marisa Ferguson, Maria Livramento, Alicia Maker, Andrea Walcott, Gina Mensah, Kalysta Gates, Munir Muhammad, Elaine Smith, George Walter-Ndukwe, Jennifer Headley, Dawn Bostic Cook, Amin Kabir, and Samantha Shepherd.

• Winner for SBC: Canisia Nthahbisengmoloi.

• Winner for Lambeth College: Ian Campbell.

• Winner for Nine Elms Campus: Ayesha Osborne.

Unsung Hero

This special category honoured individuals who consistently contributed behind the scenes. Nominees included:

• SBC Nominees: Aman Kabir, Amanda Meredith, Elia Roque, Abdul Nur, Amanda Kallah, Marisa Ferguson, Fanny Petrucci, Stephen Hunt, Hopeton Tracy, Jim Delaney, Yohannes Tsegei, Sarah Grint, Sanjeev Rupal, Romario Grant, Michael Clarke, Kalysta Gates, Gemima Dickson, Emiligildo Lampito, Donna Webster, Colette Murray, and Canisia Nthahbisengmoloi.

• Winner for SBC: Amanda Meredith.

• Winner for Nine Elms Campus: Feysal Igal.

Festive Fun and Fellowship

The awards ceremony was not just about recognising achievements; it was also an opportunity to bring together staff from across the three campuses to celebrate as one community. The afternoon was filled with laughter, heartfelt congratulations, and plenty of photo opportunities in front of the decorated Christmas tree.

As the event came to a close, it was clear that the staff of South Bank Colleges are more than colleagues – they are a family. The Staff Awards Lunch and Christmas party reminded everyone of the incredible talent, dedication, and spirit that make South Bank Colleges such a special place to work and study.

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners for their outstanding contributions in 2024. Here’s to another year of excellence and collaboration now that we have reached 2025. Let's make it the most fabulous year for our hard-working students, too.