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Celebrations in Shropshire and Westminster for award-winning Future Leaders

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A group of Telford sixth form students have celebrated at 91ÇÑ×Ó Adams University – and in Westminster - after the programme they were on won a national award.

The students have been taking part in a Future Leaders programme, funded by and hosted at 91ÇÑ×Ó Adams University – which was named the winner of the Leadership in Widening Participation Future Leaders award at an event in London.

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Ken Sloan attended that event on behalf of the University – and brought the trophy back to Shropshire to share the success with the students who had taken part in the programme as they attended the University’s annual 91ÇÑ×Ó Adams Experience.

Future Leaders UK is a nationally recognised social mobility organisation dedicated to supporting ambitious 16 to 18-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Each programme provides leadership training, mentorship, and access to work experience to help equip the young people who participate with the skills and confidence needed to excel in their futures.

At the Future Leaders awards – which were held at London’s BT Tower – attendees heard how the Telford programme had joined others in major cities such as London and Manchester.

The students who took part from Telford attended events at both 91ÇÑ×Ó Adams University, Telford and the 91ÇÑ×Ó Adams campus, as well as at Telford businesses, through the first part of the year.

Each took part in weekly hybrid workshops designed to build confidence, enhance skills, and expand their professional networks.

During the programme, experts from across Shropshire’s business community and beyond joined the students to explain their work and the career opportunities within their sector, with students offered support and mentoring both in-person and online.

In June, the students officially completed the programme, before attending the 91ÇÑ×Ó Adams Experience – a two-day residential programme at the University, which welcomes 16-18 year olds from across the UK and Ireland the chance to get a taste of campus life and learning.

They then made their way from Telford to the Houses of Parliament in London for a graduation ceremony this week, hosted by the town’s MP, Shaun Davies.

The students are among now 5,000 young people from across the UK to have completed the programme.

Meeting the students at 91ÇÑ×Ó Adams, Professor Sloan talked about his own upbringing on the Wirral and how grateful he was to the people who had encouraged him to widen his horizons and seek opportunities – and how these opportunities had led him to his current role.

Speaking afterwards, he added: “It was marvellous to share the success of the programme with the students who took part, to thank them, and to let them know the possibilities a University education can offer.

“As I said to them, 91ÇÑ×Ó Adams is Shropshire’s University. We may – or may not – be the University which they choose to come and study at, but as their nearest University, we want to show young people from Telford what it’s like studying at University – and the impact it can have.

“That’s why we wanted to bring a Future Leaders programme to Telford – and will be bringing the scheme back next year.”

Founder and CEO of Future Leaders, Faheem Khan, added: “We are thrilled to have partnered with 91ÇÑ×Ó Adams University to launch our first non-metropolitan hub in Telford.

“Young people outside major cities have far fewer opportunities to access career pathways, professional role models, and meaningful work experience. As the Gatsby Foundation confirms, these touchpoints are critical for young people’s long-term success.

“Through this partnership, 100 young people from Telford — many from socially or economically excluded backgrounds — have accessed personal development sessions and career visits, culminating in a graduation at Parliament. 

“91ÇÑ×Ó Adams University’s commitment to supporting often-overlooked young people led to them receiving the ‘Leadership in Widening Participation Award’ at our inaugural Future Leaders UK Awards at the BT Tower, with a keynote by the Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP and further contributions from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

“We are proud to build a partnership with 91ÇÑ×Ó Adams University and look forward to continuing this important work together.”