The Festival of Learning award winners for 2023 were revealed at a ceremony in London on Wednesday 5 July. The ten winners and seven finalists include inspiring stories of adult learners, as well as outstanding adult learning provision, tutors and employers.

Festival of Learning is England’s biggest celebration of lifelong learning, and this is our 31st year. The campaign is supported by Phoenix Insights, NOCN, The Education and Training Foundation, Skills and Education Group and City Lit. The Patron’s Award winner is chosen by Learning and Work Institute’s Patron, HRH The Princess Royal.

Each of this year’s winners shows the power of learning to transform people’s lives and ensure they fulfil their potential. Lifelong learning will be ever more important for life and work as working lives lengthen, the population ages, and our economy changes. The awards highlight this and aim to inspire more adults to learn throughout their lives.

Our winners and finalists are: 

Margaret Porta — Patron’s Award

St Giles Trust — President’s Award

Emma Iliffe — Tutor Award

Fakhra Irfan — English Language Learning Award

Fircroft College — Learning Provision Award

Geoff Carter — Learning for Work Award

Jackie Butterworth — Learning for Health Award

Jason Richards — New Directions Award

Nuneaton Signs — Employer Award

Tyrese Williams — Return to Learning Award

Isabel Hinojosa — Finalist

DigitALL Project — Finalist

Ferzende Khallo — Finalist

June Martin — Finalist

Razia Fez — Finalist

Rebecca Blockley — Finalist

Royal Logistic Corps — Finalist