Bedford College Principal & Chief
Executive, Ian Pryce, has been awarded a CBE in the Queen's
Birthday Honours for services to further education locally and
nationally.
The award reflects the transformation of the
college over the last twelve years from an institution of 5,000
students, 250 staff, operating from three locations and with pass
rates in the bottom 10%, to an Ofsted Outstanding Beacon College
with 18,000 students, 750 staff, with sites in Bedford, Kempston,
Central Bedfordshire (Shuttleworth College), Rushden and Luton, and
pass rates now in the top 5% in the country.
In addition Ian chairs both the local
BedfordBID and the National Data Service. He is Vice Chair of
the influential 157 Group of Colleges, a Council member of City
& Guilds, a member of the regional CBI Council and a member of
the Information Authority. In 1998 Ian became the first
Finance Director in the country to be appointed as a College
Principal. In 2008 he won the prestigious British Quality
Foundation national Leadership award, and in 2009 became the first
person from the further education sector to be named as a Companion
of the Chartered Management Institute.
Although delighted to be recognised in this
way Ian was clear this is an award that relates to the College as a
whole:
“I always tell anyone I meet I have the best
job in Bedford. This honour reflects the dedication and
talent of all of our staff. To get such a senior honour is
very humbling. It is a great privilege to be asked to advise
Ministers and senior civil servants, and to be rewarded for just
doing my job is a lovely surprise. This vote of confidence
will give everyone a boost and make us even more determined to
create the world-class college and outstanding local education
system Bedford needs and deserves.”