Step Up To HE
A University of Staffordshire project is supporting people from non-traditional backgrounds, or who may not have taken a traditional academic route, back into education.
Established in 2007, Step Up To Higher Education’s free 10-week programme is aimed at giving the knowledge, skills and confidence for people to progress onto degree-level work. It attracts a cross-section of people including those looking to retrain for a new career, pursue a passion or perhaps explore personal development.
Staff are passionate about the role University of Staffordshire plays in enabling widening participation and access, and also about the role education plays in positively developing people to succeed and flourish. There are currently four members in the Step Up Academic Team: Ashley Cotton, Kay Dawson, Daniel Tapley and Eleanor Johnston.
Applications for Step Up To Higher Education are contextually considered in order to secure attainable academic progression and future transition into degree level study. Experience is valued as much as formal qualifications, ensuring entrance requirements are flexible.
The 10-week programme is run throughout the year, with a maximum of 30 students in each cohort. The next programme starts in mid-September and students come from a variety of non-traditional backgrounds as Step Up To Higher Education collaborates with the likes of healthcare organisations, mental health charities and addiction and recovery services.
Students learn the crucial skills needed for university study including attending and preparing for lectures and seminars, note-taking, gathering research and using library resources. They also play a full part in university life, are assigned a personal tutor and the course is taught by subject-specialist academic staff, study skills tutors, library and IT specialists.
Once the programme is completed students gain a qualification and have the chance to go on to take a foundation or degree-level course.
Programme Manager Ashley Cotton said: “Our aim is to ensure that as many adult learners as possible reach their full potential and we provide opportunities and the support for them to do just that.
“Our work is so rewarding and is all about building connections and relationships. To do that we work collaboratively with our students. It’s not just about teaching and imparting knowledge, it’s about coaching, mentoring and offering holistic support.”
Step Up To Higher Education has been nominated in the Inspiration in Education category of the Your Heroes Awards 2025.
Annie Thompson
Annie Thompson was the first person in her family to go to university – and now she uses her experiences from that time to ensure the university students she works with have the careers support and knowledge she didn’t receive herself.
The 28-year-old is a Career Liaison Officer in the seven-strong Career Readiness team at University of Staffordshire. She is part of a careers group that recently won at the What Uni Students Choice Awards 2025 – where students voted freely about their experiences of careers and placed Annie’s team in the top three universities in the UK for career prospects.
Annie designs and delivers impactful employability programmes that upskill, inspire and prepare students for the world of work. She tries to ensure every student has the skills, experiences and confidence to thrive after graduation and beyond.
Her remit includes computing, esports, games, business, innovation and engineering. Annie is a link between academia and careers and is known for offering a personalised careers service based on the knowledge that all student pathways are different.
Starting as a Careers Coach at University of Staffordshire in 2019, Annie also runs the University’s cheerleading team and also holds employability sessions with the team’s members too.
Annie said: “I try to offer a careers service that is personable and one that I would want for myself as a student. I am looking to develop careers into all curriculum areas. I really enjoy doing what I do.
“It’s so important to support and shape students’ career development and employability. A big part of my role is designing and delivering career-focused activities, advising academic teams on embedding employability and fostering relationships to secure placements and career opportunities.”
Annie Thompson has been nominated in the Inspiration in Education category of the Your Heroes Awards 2025.
Staffs Computing Society
A technology-focused group of University of Staffordshire students has increased its membership by 270% this year whilst positively affecting not only its own membership but also the wider community.
The Staffs Computing Society is a self-funded, volunteer-led, inclusive and academically-focused group that brings together tech enthusiasts in a fun and supportive environment. But their reach extends far beyond the campus.
In September 2025 they’re launching a school-focused outreach across Stoke-on-Trent, building bespoke workshops for primary and secondary students to demystify tech, inspire confidence and create new pathways into digital careers.
It’s just one example of how the group collaborates with schools, university departments, external organisations and companies.
Other examples include regularly hosting or leading events such as open days, school visits, employer workshops, mentoring programmes and careers panels to raise awareness and understanding of tech.
The society has consistently looked to act as ambassadors for the University and the wider tech community with a real commitment to supporting underserved communities at local and national levels through storytelling, workshops and visibility campaigns.
Manager of the Staffs Computing Society, Aurelia Brzezowska, said: “Our mission is to upskill and provide support and opportunities for our members. However, we have a real focus on community engagement and support too.
“The society has worked tirelessly to offer a wide variety of opportunities for our student members to learn, develop skills, network, build CVs and seek employment opportunities as we want this society to be the go-to place for anyone passionate about tech.
“But we also think it’s so important to change the perception of technology for youngsters within the city and beyond too.
“Technology is for everyone and should be fun. That’s why we love helping the next generation and we think it is important that we try to be good role models for them. Everyone in the society loves to give back to the community.”
The Staffs Computing Society has been nominated in the Inspiration in Education category of the Your Heroes Awards 2025.
Military Preparation College for Training (MPCT) Stoke-on-Trent
A Stoke-on-Trent college prepares teenagers for a career in the armed forces and improves their life skills, self-confidence and physical fitness along the way.
Military Preparation College for Training (MPCT) Stoke-on-Trent in Anchor Road, Longton has been working with 16 to 19-year-olds for nearly five years.
All of the instructors are ex-Armed Forces, including centre manager Ste Smith for left the military in 2017 and took up his current role four years later.
He said: “After I left the military I struggled in finding a purpose myself,
so I really do have empathy for young adults out there who are perhaps struggling or have a lack of focus.
“Working at MPCT has given me that purpose and whilst working here I have seen changes, first hand, in hundreds of our learners.
“Our aim is to support our students on their military journey and whilst they do enter other services the military makes up 99% of student progression.
“We help and train them and we put them under controlled pressure through activities such as team-building, leadership and volunteering. It’s fantastic to see them grow as young adults, learn new skills and make a positive contribution towards the community.
“We also plan and host a number of charity events throughout the year and our students will often give up their evenings and weekends to volunteer too.”
MPCT’s programme is free and has a heavy military focus and context.
Instructors aim to get the best of out their students with an approach that is active, fun and develops the student’s physical fitness and self-confidence alongside key skills. Students take part in monthly careers education sessions supported by military and civilian recruiters and employers.
MPCT Stoke-on-Trent has been nominated in the Inspiration in Education category of the Your Heroes Awards 2025 by Councillor Lynn Watkins, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at Stoke-on-Trent City Council.