USP College Staff and Teams Recognised in National and Regional Education Awards

• Posted 27 May 2026

Three nominations across two prestigious further education award programmes celebrate the people and teams delivering outstanding results for students at USP College's Seevic Campus in Benfleet and Palmer's Campus in Grays, Essex.

NCFE Aspiration Awards 2026

Support Staff of the Year - Finalist Julie Snelling, Manager of Learning Support

The NCFE Aspiration Awards are a national celebration of outstanding achievement in further education, run by NCFE - a leading educational charity and champion of vocational and technical learning. Now in its ninth year, the awards recognise learners, apprentices, educators, and support staff making a genuine difference across the UK. Julie Snelling has spent 30 years as Manager of Learning Support at USP College, championing inclusive practice and ensuring students with additional and high-level needs can access, participate in, and thrive within further education. Her finalist place in the Support Staff of the Year category recognises a career built on advocacy, expertise, and genuine commitment to some of the college's most vulnerable learners.

Essex Teaching Awards 2026

FE Team of the Year - Shortlisted Health and Social Care team

College Partnership of the Year - Shortlisted Early Years team

The Essex Teaching Awards, now in their 12th year, are organised by Essex County Council and celebrate exceptional educators and teams across the county. USP College's Health and Social Care team is shortlisted for FE Team of the Year - a category recognising teams whose combined skills, creativity and energy deliver outstanding results and transform the lives of their learners. The Early Years team is shortlisted for School or College Partnership of the Year, which celebrates partnerships that have made a real, measurable difference to a significant local challenge - demonstrating strong values and a shared commitment to improving outcomes for young people. 

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These nominations are a testament to the people who make USP College what it is. Julie's dedication to our students with additional needs, and the outstanding work of our Health and Social Care and Early Years teams, reflect exactly the kind of college we are — one that puts students first and works hard to make a lasting difference to lives across Essex.

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Winners of the NCFE Aspiration Awards will be announced online in June 2026. The Essex Teaching Awards ceremony takes place on 17 June at Hylands House, Chelmsford, where shortlisted nominees will be named as Winner or Highly Commended on the evening.

We wish all the nominees the best of luck and thank you for excellent work.