We are pleased to announce that nominations are open for the 15th annual Brian May Access to HE Learner Awards.
About the Awards
These Awards celebrate the success and achievements of Learners studying Access to Higher Education (HE) Diplomas in AIM Centres across England and Wales. They were launched in 2011-2012 and then renamed following the passing of our dear colleague, Brian, who worked for Open College Network West Midlands, firstly as a Moderator and Centre Reviewer, before taking up the role of Access Adviser. His main areas of expertise were Humanities, Skills for Learning and Education Studies.
Exciting Opportunities to Win – Nominations Now Open
Learners can be nominated by their Centre Tutor for the following Access to HE categories, for the academic year 2025-2026:
-Outstanding Achievement
-Outstanding Commitment to Study
-Outstanding Online Learner
There will be Eleven Awards for these category finalists.
Celebrating Further
Good news – there is a new category this year for Outstanding Access to HE Tutor. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase and celebrate a member of Staff who has gone above and beyond in providing Learners with an enriched experience, whether this has been in the classroom, through pastoral support, or both! Nominations are to be submitted from Centres, but can be on behalf of the Learners and include supporting evidence from them too.
Centres are also invited to nominate themselves for the Outstanding Access to HE Centre of the Year Award. The perfect time to promote your achievement, examples of good practice and elements of your course that contribute to the success of your Access to HE Learners.
Event Details
All finalists will be invited to the prestigious 2026 Access to HE Celebration Awards Ceremony on Thursday 12th November, at Austin Birmingham Court.
The winner of each category will also receive a trophy and be put forward for the national Keith Fletcher Memorial Awards in 2027 for the same academic year.
Outstanding Academic Achievement. Download the nomination form.
Outstanding Commitment to Study. Download the nomination form.
Outstanding Online Learner. Download the nomination form.
Outstanding Tutor: Download the nomination form.
Outstanding Centre of the Year: Download the nomination form.
General rules and conditions:
AIM Centres are invited to nominate Access to HE Learners on courses in the current academic year (ie 2025-2026).
Learners who are withdrawn from the course will be ineligible for an award.
A Centre can nominate up to three Learners per category.
Please complete each nomination on a separate form.
We ask that all nominees are notified of their nomination. They should also be informed that we may use their learning stories in our marketing publications should consent be given. Where approval has been provided, AIM reserves the right to use the information provided in the nomination form for marketing and publicity purposes.
Learners plus a guest will be invited to attend the Access to HE Awards Ceremony. Invitations will also be extended to the winning Tutor and Centre of the Year. If Learners are unable to attend, we would appreciate if Centres could provide a photograph of the Learner being presented with the certificate for publicity purposes at a later date, to promote their successes.
The decisions of the panel of judges will be final.
Best of luck!