A total of £16,000 was awarded to learners and education providers through learning bursaries at the Awards, which aim to celebrate the achievements of learners who have gone to exceptional lengths to achieve their learning goals. The ceremony was hosted by Denise Watson with special guest, Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald. Guest speaker, Matthew Bell, former Ireland international hockey player, shared his remarkable story after being given a day to live by medics back in 2019 when they discovered he had a brain tumour.
SERC Apprentice, Eugene Prunty, from Dunmurry, was announced Winner of the Traineeship/Apprenticeship Learner of the Year. The Level 2 Apprentice in Vehicle Maintenance & Repair (Heavy Vehicle), at SERC Lisburn Campus, was also presented with the Hilary Slone MBE Learning Endeavour Award 2025.
Truffle, the vintage shop at SERC Downpatrick Campus, run by the Foundation Skills team and students won the Advancing Learning Through Innovation Award.
Highly Commended Awards went to Mykhailo Chernenko, an ESOL and Be Your Own Boss student at Downpatrick Campus, in the Further Education Learner of the Year category; and to Zarifa Asghari, an ESOL and Essentials Skills student at Lisburn Campus in the Essential Skills Learner of the Year category; and to SERC, in the Provider of the Year category.
Gary Ritchie, Deputy Principal, Curriculum at SERC said, “We are immensely proud to have students, projects, and the college team recognised with OCN Learner Endeavour Awards.
“These Awards are testament to the determination and professionalism of our students and staff teams and our commitment at SERC to deliver real learning for real life.
“We hope the receipts of these Awards, and the bursaries which go with them, will inspire the winners to continue on their learning journey and encourage others to find the education pathway that is right for them.”
Martin Flynn, Chief Executive OCN, said, “This year’s awards ceremony had an extra special feel to it given it’s our 30th anniversary year. I am delighted that once more OCN was able to provide a unique platform for learners to take centre stage, sharing their inspiring stories of achievement.”
1. Contributed
Zarifa Asghari, an ESOL and Essentials Skills student at SERC Lisburn Campus, Highly Commended in the Essential Skills Learner of the Year category of the OCN NI Learning Endeavour Awards with Kathleen O’Hare, Chair, Northern Ireland Skills Council. Photo: Submitted
2. Contributed
Gary Ritchie, Deputy Principal, Curriculum accepts the Highly Commended award presented to SERC in the Provider of the Year category of the OCNI NI Learning Endeavour Awards with Martin Flynn, Chief Executive OCN NI. Photo: Submitted
3. Contributed
Truffle, the vintage shop at SERC Downpatrick Campus, run by the Foundation Skills team and students won the Advancing Learning Through Innovation Award. (L – R) Foundation Skills team, Anne Murphy, with Tara Craig, Assistant Director The Open University, Catherine Rooney and Joanne Murray. Photo: Submitted
4. Contributed
Eugene Prunty, Level 2 Apprentice in Vehicle Maintenance & Repair (Heavy Vehicle), at SERC Lisburn Campus, is presented with the OCN NI Hilary Sloan MBE Learning Endeavour Award with Anne-Marie McClure, Vice Chair OCN NI. Photo: Submitted