Newham College
Net Zero Hero Award, sponsored by NOCN Group
Newham College has won a national award for preparing learners, employers and the local community with skills for a sustainable future.
The college collected the Net Zero Hero Award at the Get the Nation Learning Awards 2026, held on 4 November at The Royal Society in London. Sponsored by NOCN Group, the award celebrates organisations helping people gain the knowledge and skills needed for the green economy.
Judges praised Newham College’s green skills offer across construction, engineering and retrofit. It includes 22 short courses in sustainability and low-carbon construction, alongside specialist qualifications in solar technology, energy storage and heat pumps. The college is also putting sustainability into practice across its campuses, investing more than £10 million in low-carbon upgrades.
Learners are discovering new green career routes, employers are gaining people with up-to-date environmental skills, and other learning providers are benefiting from Newham College’s experience. The college has shared its green skills resources with 23 institutions through the Local London Skills Provider Network.
The Get the Nation Learning Awards are part of Get the Nation Learning Week, running from 2–6 November. Led by Learning and Work Institute and backed by more than 230 organisations, the Get the Nation Learning campaign celebrates the power of lifelong learning to change lives, strengthen communities and support better work.
Jamie Purser, Principal of Newham College, said:
“This award recognises the whole-college approach we are taking to sustainability, from the skills we equip our learners with and the way we work with employers, to how we operate and invest across our campuses. For us, sustainability is not a standalone agenda; it is embedded in how we prepare for the future, support our communities and contribute to the economic prosperity of Newham and East London.”
Youssef Elmorshed a learner with Newham College, said:
“It’s really encouraging to know that Newham College is taking green technology and sustainability seriously, not just in what we learn but across the College more widely. These are going to be important skills for the future, so it gives me confidence that what I’m learning will be relevant when I move into work and can help me make a positive difference.”
Stephen Evans, Chief Executive of Learning and Work Institute, said:
“Investing in skills is a crucial to the transition to net zero. Newham College is at the forefront of this work, equipping learners with the skills our society and economy need to adapt while creating clear routes into green careers. Its high-quality provision benefits learners, employers and the wider community, making the college a worthy winner of the Net Zero Hero Award this year.”
Graham Hasting-Evans, Chief Executive at NOCN Group, said:
“Newham College is helping people develop the practical skills needed to make our buildings, infrastructure and energy systems more sustainable. Its provision connects learners with opportunities in growing sectors while helping employers build the workforce they need. By investing in its own campuses and sharing expertise with other providers, the college is extending that impact across the wider community. We are proud to sponsor the Net Zero Hero Award and congratulate Newham College on this well-deserved recognition.”
