Truro and Penwith College has been named runner-up in the Career Development Institute’s (CDI) inaugural Careers Education Programme Award, receiving national recognition for the impact of its Career Zone – Your Future You programme.
Launched in 2026 and sponsored by The Careers & Enterprise Company, the CDI Careers Education Awards celebrate excellence in careers education practice across England. Linked to the National Careers Leaders’ Conference, the awards recognise schools and colleges delivering high-impact careers provision that demonstrates outstanding design, delivery, inclusion, partnership working and measurable outcomes for learners.
The Careers Education Programme Award specifically recognises institutions providing exceptional careers education, particularly for young people facing barriers to progression, making the College’s success a significant endorsement of its learner-centred approach.
The award judges commended the College’s Career Zone – Your Future You programme for its clear and sustained impact on learners, supported by robust evidence, learner feedback and progression data. Student satisfaction with careers support was exceptionally high, with an overall rating of 4.87 out of 5, while 100% of learners said they would recommend the service and 97% reported an improved understanding of their future options after engaging with Career Zone.
At the heart of the programme is a structured and developmental careers journey delivered through the Future You Awards and captured on the College’s Navigate careers platform. Learners use Navigate to record employer encounters, skills development and reflective learning, with more than 15,000 hours of engagement logged across the programme.
A key strength highlighted by the judging panel was the programme’s emphasis on meaningful reflection and progression. Through the Go Further Award, learners explore curriculum learning alongside personal values, sustainability, artificial intelligence and labour market change, helping them make informed decisions about their future while developing career management skills mapped directly to the CDI Career Development Framework.
The Career Zone team delivers an extensive programme of events throughout the year, including:
- Sustainability Festival
- Truro & Penwith Careers Conventions
- National Careers Week
- Words at Work
- SEND Careers Fair
- National Manufacturing Day
The submission also highlighted the College’s commitment to inclusive practice. Learners with SEND and Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) receive tailored guidance, supported placements and structured follow-up support, while Career Zone Skills Clinics provide focused development in resilience, communication, teamwork and creativity.
Tim Moody, Careers Lead at Truro and Penwith College, shared:
“To be recognised as runner-up in the Career Development Institute’s inaugural Education Awards is a powerful endorsement of the outstanding careers guidance and support provided at Truro and Penwith College. While the College delivers an exceptional educational experience for every student, the Career Zone team plays a pivotal role in helping learners connect the dots between education, opportunity and aspiration.
“For many young people, navigating an increasingly complex landscape of learning, employment and progression options can feel overwhelming. Through our Your Future You approach, we ensure that careers education is not an add-on, but an integral part of the student experience. By bringing together employer encounters, industry placements, labour market intelligence, skills development, personal ambition and expert guidance, we help students make sense of their options and build confidence in their decision-making.
“Our ambition is simple: to empower every learner to make informed, authentic and realistic choices that align with their strengths, aspirations and programme of study. In doing so, we help ensure that each student progresses to a destination that is not only achievable, but genuinely meaningful, creating a future that reflects the very best version of Your Future You.”
The recognition reflects the dedication of the College’s Career Zone team, staff, employer partners and learners. It reinforces Truro and Penwith College’s position as a leader in careers education, employability and learner progression.
For more information about Career Zone – Your Future You, visit: https://www.truro-penwith.ac.uk/school-leavers/career-zone/
