Student Joshua Gibbs had a dream come true when he met motor-racing legend Martin Brundle as their links with the College of West Anglia took them both to a prestigious event at the House of Commons.
Former Formula One driver, presenter and now Sky TV commentator Martin received a coveted Association of Colleges gold award as one of a number of people who have excelled, having been former college students.
And Joshua, 19, went along as the College of West Anglia nominated him as a “future star.”
He is also following in the footsteps of Martin as both studied business at the King’s Lynn college.
Martin was presented with his gold award by Lord Willis of Knaresborough, who is President of the AOC..
Staff and students from the College of West Anglia were present at the awards ceremony, which is held each year to celebrate the success of further education alumni as well as acknowledge the vital role that colleges play in the careers of the winners and of their continuing achievements.
Martin was nominated by the college where he studied a Diploma in Business Studies between 1975 and 1977.
At a past visit to the college, he spoke of how the skills and knowledge he got from studying subjects such as economics, law, statistics and accounts all helped him when he went on to help run his father’s car dealership after leaving college and in his career ever since.
Martin started his racing career in 1971 at the age of 12, driving a self-built Ford Anglia grass track car near his West Norfolk home.
In 1983, at the age of 24, he narrowly lost the Formula Three championship to Ayrton Senna before moving up to Formula One in 1984.
Over the following 12 years, he had 159 Grand Prix starts and reached the podium nine times. He also won the 1988 World Sportscar title and the 1990 Le Mans 24 Hour race.
He began his career as a Formula One TV commentator in 1997 at ITV alongside the legendary Murray Walker, before moving to the BBC in 2009 and then on to Sky Sports in 2012.
He has been on the winning team for four BAFTAs and seven Royal Television Society awards and has also published two books.
He still maintains links with his former college, most recently in 2013 when he performed the official opening of the college’s Technology Centre.
On winning his award Martin Brundle said: “I’m delighted to receive this Gold Award from the Association of Colleges, just as I’m happy to see the College of West Anglia still thriving many decades later. It was an important two years in my life.”
Martin was among eight former students whose careers have been positively influenced by their former Colleges. The other winners are Gloria de Piero MP – Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities; Rob Forkan – Entrepreneur and founder of Gandys Flip flops; Anton Piotrowski – Chef and winner of Masterchef the Professionals 2012; Toni Pearce – President of the National Union of Students; Alan Rusbridger – Editor of The Guardian; Christopher Bailey MBE – CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Burberry and Dr Munira Mirza – London Deputy Mayor for Culture and Education.
To highlight the important role further education continues to play for today’s students, a ‘future star’ campaign is run alongside the Gold Awards.
The nominating colleges each select a current student who shows promise in a similar field to their Gold Award winner.
Joshua, from Emneth,is currently studying a BTEC Extended Diploma in Business at the College of West Anglia, after which he hopes to develop a career in business, one day running his own.
Joshua, had the opportunity to meet Martin at the award ceremony at the House of Commons on June 11 and find out what it takes to carve out a successful career and about the role that their college played in their success.
CWA Executive Director for Curriculum Arlene Clark said: “It was a great honour and pleasure to attend the celebration and we were delighted that Josh was given the opportunity to meet Martin Brundle.
“Josh has done fantastically well at college and intends to take a degree in business at CWA before embarking on a career in the business world. “
· The Association of Colleges’ Gold Awards are in their 15
th consecutive year and are presented by the AoC Charitable Trust to celebrate the achievements of former further education students and the impact their college had on their careers. Lord Willis of Knaresborough is President of the AoC Charitable Trust.
* Our pictures show Martin and Joshua outside the Commons; Martin receiing his award from Lord Willis and with other winners.
Student Joshua Gibbs had a dream come true when he met motor-racing legend Martin Brundle as their links with the College of West Anglia took them both to a prestigious event at the House of Commons.
Former Formula One driver, presenter and now Sky TV commentator Martin received a coveted Association of Colleges gold award as one of a number of people who have excelled, having been former college students.
And Joshua, 19, went along as the College of West Anglia nominated him as a “future star.”
He is also following in the footsteps of Martin as both studied business at the King’s Lynn college.
Martin was presented with his gold award by Lord Willis of Knaresborough, who is President of the AOC..
Staff and students from the College of West Anglia were present at the awards ceremony, which is held each year to celebrate the success of further education alumni as well as acknowledge the vital role that colleges play in the careers of the winners and of their continuing achievements.
Martin was nominated by the college where he studied a Diploma in Business Studies between 1975 and 1977.
At a past visit to the college, he spoke of how the skills and knowledge he got from studying subjects such as economics, law, statistics and accounts all helped him when he went on to help run his father’s car dealership after leaving college and in his career ever since.
Martin started his racing career in 1971 at the age of 12, driving a self-built Ford Anglia grass track car near his West Norfolk home.
In 1983, at the age of 24, he narrowly lost the Formula Three championship to Ayrton Senna before moving up to Formula One in 1984.
Over the following 12 years, he had 159 Grand Prix starts and reached the podium nine times. He also won the 1988 World Sportscar title and the 1990 Le Mans 24 Hour race.
He began his career as a Formula One TV commentator in 1997 at ITV alongside the legendary Murray Walker, before moving to the BBC in 2009 and then on to Sky Sports in 2012.
He has been on the winning team for four BAFTAs and seven Royal Television Society awards and has also published two books.
He still maintains links with his former college, most recently in 2013 when he performed the official opening of the college’s Technology Centre.
On winning his award Martin Brundle said: “I’m delighted to receive this Gold Award from the Association of Colleges, just as I’m happy to see the College of West Anglia still thriving many decades later. It was an important two years in my life.”
Martin was among eight former students whose careers have been positively influenced by their former Colleges. The other winners are Gloria de Piero MP – Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities; Rob Forkan – Entrepreneur and founder of Gandys Flip flops; Anton Piotrowski – Chef and winner of Masterchef the Professionals 2012; Toni Pearce – President of the National Union of Students; Alan Rusbridger – Editor of The Guardian; Christopher Bailey MBE – CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Burberry and Dr Munira Mirza – London Deputy Mayor for Culture and Education.
To highlight the important role further education continues to play for today’s students, a ‘future star’ campaign is run alongside the Gold Awards.
The nominating colleges each select a current student who shows promise in a similar field to their Gold Award winner.
Joshua, from Emneth,is currently studying a BTEC Extended Diploma in Business at the College of West Anglia, after which he hopes to develop a career in business, one day running his own.
Joshua, had the opportunity to meet Martin at the award ceremony at the House of Commons on June 11 and find out what it takes to carve out a successful career and about the role that their college played in their success.
CWA Executive Director for Curriculum Arlene Clark said: “It was a great honour and pleasure to attend the celebration and we were delighted that Josh was given the opportunity to meet Martin Brundle.
“Josh has done fantastically well at college and intends to take a degree in business at CWA before embarking on a career in the business world. “
· The Association of Colleges’ Gold Awards are in their 15th consecutive year and are presented by the AoC Charitable Trust to celebrate the achievements of former further education students and the impact their college had on their careers. Lord Willis of Knaresborough is President of the AoC Charitable Trust.
* Our pictures show Martin and Joshua outside the Commons; Martin receiing his award from Lord Willis and with other winners.