The award was given in recognition of the Group’s export of education, training and expertise to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, China and Europe.
An expert panel of judges made up of local industry leaders were looking for a business that has, “generated substantial and sustained increases in their export activity.”
Over the last two years LCG has achieved exceptional growth, almost doubling its export income, with a new £12m Saudi contract to run Riyadh Technical Trainers College from September.
This higher education college employs 120 lecturers and support staff and trains up to 2,000 mechanical and communications technology teachers at any one time.
This new growth complements the sustained success of LCG’s Qatief Female College, where a further 2,000 women study English and vocational courses, such as business management.
Recent achievements in Saudi have been matched by the growing strength of LCG’s China operations.
Earlier this year the Group signed a six-year contract extension with the Sichuan College of Architectural Technology, teaching more than 1,000 students a year.
September also saw LCG teaching its first intake of accountancy students at Chengdu Polytechnic.
The Group’s other export income is generated via A-Level provision for Norwegian students and a growing cohort of Chinese students travelling to Lincoln to study A-levels in the City.
LCG CEO Gary Headland said: “I’m delighted that the growth and sustainability of our export business has been celebrated with this award. The award itself recognises the hard work, dedication and expertise of our staff in Saudi Arabia and China, but also many of our UK-based staff, who contribute to our overseas operations.
“Our export business is strategically important to us. The UK further education sector has historically been heavily reliant on government funding to operate and has had to manage significant funding cuts in over the past five years.
“Our international export activities are key strands of our strategy to diversify income streams and to create new opportunities for investment in education and skills in the Group’s colleges in Lincolnshire and Newark.”
The Group were also shortlisted for the Training Excellence Award and one of their apprentices was nominated for the Apprentice of the Year award.
