Celebrating success at national awards

Two Novus colleagues have been recognised at a national awards ceremony for their work supporting learners in developing enterprise learning and skills, to increase their employment opportunities on release from prison.

David Morgan, Enterprise Partnership Lead for Novus, was named IOEE Member of the Year at the Celebrating Enterprise annual award ceremony at the Houses of Parliament, yesterday. David was chosen ‘for over 10 years of work promoting enterprise and entrepreneurship within prisons’.

Novus tutor at HMP Wealstun, Sheralee Feldman, was named IOEE Enterprise Educator of the Year for ‘supporting offenders turn their lives around through enterprise development’.

Barbara McDonough, Chief Operating Officer, Novus, said: “David and Sheralee do fantastic work in supporting learners to develop the skills and knowledge they need to start up a business on their release from prison and I am delighted their passion and dedication has been acknowledged by the industry with their awards.

“We know that having employment on release not only has a positive effect on offenders and their families, but on wider society, as research shows it can help to reduce the rates of re-offending, and for many ex-offenders self-employment is a real opportunity for them.”

Celebrating Enterprise is an annual event run by the Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative (SFEDI) and the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs (IOEE) to recognise the very best in enterprise learning and skills in the UK and beyond.

The awards recognise enterprising excellence in a range of settings, from new start businesses to innovative learning centres, enterprising employees to international business success. The awards also demonstrate how enterprising excellence can be found at all levels and in doing so, show how investing in skills can achieve outstanding results.