Lily Edgar Booth, a student on Oldham College’s Step into Education programme, has been named the 16-19 Learner of the Year at the Greater Manchester Skills Awards.
From homeschooling to award stage
The accolade recognises Lily’s rapid progress after moving from being homeschooled to enrolling at college. Beyond strong classroom performance, her nomination highlighted a sustained push to develop social and practical skills: taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, volunteering in a charity shop, supporting Oldham Foodbank and serving as one of the college’s Student Executives.
“It was a privilege to witness Lily being named 16-19 Learner of the Year. Her inspiring journey is a powerful reminder of why we do what we do every day: supporting learners to overcome barriers and realise their potential,”
The quote above is from Chellé Charlesworth, Director of English, Maths, ESOL and Step Into Education at Oldham College, who praised Lily’s determination and resilience.
What the award means locally
The GM Skills Awards are organised by the Greater Manchester Learner Provider Network and the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce to celebrate achievement across the region’s further education and skills sector. Oldham College’s success brings local recognition to the work done to support learners with diverse backgrounds and ambitions.
For Lily, the prize is not an end point but a stepping stone: she has identified a new career goal and plans to pursue further study to become a vehicle mechanic, a trade in demand across Greater Manchester.
- Course: Step into Education (Oldham College)
- Award: GM Skills Awards — 16-19 Learner of the Year
- Extra-curricular: Duke of Edinburgh Bronze, charity shop volunteering, Oldham Foodbank, Student Executive role
Other recognitions for Oldham College
Oldham College was also acknowledged in two further categories at the awards. The college’s ESOL department was shortlisted for Community Initiative of the Year for its Community Interpreting provision, and Harvey Dalton, an electrical apprentice, was a contender for Advanced Apprentice of the Year.
| Category | Representative |
|---|---|
| 16-19 Learner of the Year | Lily Edgar Booth (Step into Education) |
| Community Initiative (shortlist) | ESOL — Community Interpreting |
| Advanced Apprentice (shortlist) | Harvey Dalton (Electrical apprentice) |
The recognition underscores the college’s role in providing routes into employment and further training for local young people. For families and residents in Oldham it is a reminder that there are practical, supported pathways to skilled trades and community involvement — from entry-level courses to apprenticeships.
Local readers with news or story suggestions about students, learning opportunities or community projects can usually contact the college or local news outlets to share developments and nominations for future awards.
