Burton and South Derbyshire College commends student success at HE Graduation

Burton and South Derbyshire College (BSDC) proudly hosted its annual graduation event on Friday 24th October at The Hilton, St. George’s Park, celebrating the achievements of its higher education students upon completing their studies.

Graduates wore full academic dress and had official photographs taken in the scenic grounds of St. George’s Park prior to the ceremony. The caps and gowns set a formal tone for the event, creating a celebratory buzz of excitement and pride amongst graduands and their guests.

During the ceremony, students were presented with certificates marking their success across a diverse range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including honours degrees, Higher National Diplomas (HNDs), Higher National Certificates (HNCs), Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs), and professional qualifications.

Honorary Fellowships were awarded to Liam Holmes, Human Resources Manager at Toyota, for his service to industry and commitment to raising the aspirations of young people. Former Further Education Principal Chris Ball was also awarded a posthumous Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the further education sector.

Burton and South Derbyshire College offer an extensive range of higher education courses, many of which are delivered in partnership with and awarded by the University of Staffordshire. Studying higher education at BSDC provides students with an accessible and cost-effective route to achieving a university-level qualification.

The event also provided an opportunity to announce the winners of the Mercer Higher Education Awards 2025. The awards are supported by the Mercer Family Charitable Foundation, which is committed to widening participation in higher education. The winners were BSc Health and Social Care student, Ellie Jenkins, BA (Hons) Contemporary Creative Practice student, Kristine Erdmane, and BA (Hons) Contemporary Creative Practice student, Amy Harris.

John Beaty, Principal and Chief Executive at Burton and South Derbyshire College, said: “Higher-level skills are essential to the productivity of our region, and I am delighted that Burton and South Derbyshire College continues to support this agenda. The learners graduating today have done exceptionally well, and I am delighted to be celebrating their significant successes here at St. George’s Park. I know everyone graduating today has a remarkable career ahead of them and I wish them all every success in the future.”