1. Pr ospect us of
Sponsor sh ip
Oppor t u nit ies

3. Further Education (FE) Colleges in the UK lead
the world in the range and inclusiveness of
their provision, their deep commitment to their
communities and their creative response to the
individual learner.
The Association of Colleges (AoC) represents and
promotes the interests of Colleges and provides 400
UK Colleges with professional support services.
The AoC Charitable Trust was established in 1994 to
advance the education of members of the public over
the age of 16 years.
It offers organisations and individuals the unique
opportunity to contribute to the sector that
underpins the hopes and aspirations of young people
and older students throughout their lives in the
wider interest of UK society and overseas partners,
through support of one of its programmes.
Help us by being part of the Further Education sector
through sponsorship of one of our programmes.
Lord Willis of Knaresborough
President
AoC Charitable Trust

4. AoC Sponsors and Sponsorship opportunities
Beneficiaries
AoC Beacon Awards
The Mencap and RNIB Award for Inclusive
Learning 2010/11 Beacon Award winner: The AoC Beacon Awards have a deserved reputation
The Foundations Studies Team, City College for highlighting the very best that Further Education
Norwich Colleges offer, by capturing and celebrating the
positive impact that they have on their learners,
employers and communities.
Sponsorship of an AoC Beacon Award gives your
organisation the opportunity to become involved
with this highly respected awards programme. Two
main levels of sponsorship are available - an Award
Sponsor and a Core Sponsor.
The Award Sponsor funds an entire award of their
choosing, with criteria devised in consultation
with the AoC Beacon Award’s Chief Assessor. The
“ We are delighted with the success of package covers the award prize plus a contribution
to core funding (see the benefits below). This ensures
ProjectSearch. It has been a pleasure to complete ownership of the award and entitles you to
work with these young people and they are take part in the assessment process and all events.
“
already making a valuable contribution to You will have a platform at the winners presentation
as well as a high profile at the two national events
our hospital life. and networking opportunities amongst key
Deputy Director of Nursing, Norwich City Hospital delegates, MPs and Ministers.
A Core Sponsor contributes to the core funding
which the Steering Group allocates within the
The British Council Award for International Awards portfolio. The package ensures branding
Student Support 2010/11 Beacon Award winner: across all publications and events and entitles you to
a platform at the winners presentation of an award.
International Team, Edinburgh’s Telford College
“ Studying at the College has been an
incredible experience. I have grown in
“
confidence not only in my studies but also
on a personal level.
Atwell, South Africa

5. The Jardine Lloyd Thompson Benefit Solutions
Sponsorship benefits include Award for Health and Community Care 2010/11
Beacon Award winner:
`` Reaching over 7m people via the AoC’s online,
The Dept of Education, Health and Care,
press and radio campaigns – a combined PR
value of over £130,000* Hartlepool College of FE
`` Involvement at two high-profile national
events at the AoC’s Annual Conference and in
Westminster
`` Meeting with Ministers, MPs, other sponsors
and opinion formers at the national and other
networking events
`` Opportunity to be involved in the assessment
of the awards; visiting Colleges to see first-hand
“
their innovative work and meet the people
This programme has been a fantastic
behind it
opportunity for the staff and students
`` Dedicated pages in the Beacon Awards involved in the project. We have
prospectus and branding across all publications demonstrated that by challenging
“
and national events expectations we can change aspirations.
`` A chance to sit on the Beacon Awards National Sue Baker, Lecturer Health and Care
Steering Group and shape the future direction of
the Awards
`` Discounted access to other AoC services Edge Award for Practical Teaching and Practical
Learning 2010/11 Beacon Award winner:
*(figures from the 2010-2011 programme)
Creative Studies Team, Coleg Morgannwg
You can also become a Friend of the AoC Beacon
Awards by making a small annual contribution
to the core funding by direct debit. Your support
will be acknowledged in the AoC Beacon Awards
prospectus and on the AoC website and you will
receive a termly email highlighting key milestones
in the Beacon Awards year.
“ It is a way of growing up. You are involved
“
and learn so much about yourself and the
industry.
Student

6. AoC Gold Award
Winners Sponsorship opportunities
AoC Gold Awards
Each year, the AoC Gold Awards celebrate the
achievements of former Further Education students
by recognising alumni whose Colleges have played a
significant part in their careers.
Previous winners in the now 75-strong FE Hall
of Fame include celebrities such as Colin Firth,
Baroness Warsi, Jimmy Choo, Deborah Meaden, Alan
Titchmarsh, Stephen Fry, Gok Wan, Jamie Oliver
“ College saved me, I’ve always felt very
grateful for the extraordinary level of faith
and Natasha Kaplinsky. Other prominent winners
include Spencer Dale (Chief Economist at the Bank
of England), Sir Alec Jeffries (Royal Society Wolfson
they managed to maintain in me. It’s left Research Professor in Genetics) and Stewart Milne
me with a belief that everybody deserves (Chairman and Chief Executive of the Stewart Milne
a second chance. I must have been paying Group).
“
some attention as I can still quote randomly All attended an FE College and attribute their
from Thomas Hardy and Lord Byron. success to their time there.
Colin Firth, Gold Award winner 2010, Barton Peveril To recognise the impact that the winners have on the
College aspirations of current students the AoC Charitable
Trust runs a ‘mini me’ campaign. The College of the
Gold Award winner selects a current student who
is studying the same course and has similar career
aspiration. These students are invited to attend the
national presentation ceremony to meet with their
winner and hear more about how they achieved their
success.
The ceremony is held on the Terrace Pavilion at the
House of Commons where the winners are presented
with their awards by Lord Willis of Knaresborough,
President of the AoC Charitable Trust.
“ I have always lived my life loving what I
do and always try my very best and would
There are two sponsorship options for the AoC Gold
Awards - Sole Sponsor or Part Sponsor.
encourage all other young people to work The Sole Sponsor funds the Awards for a minimum
hard, be curious and always make the most of three years. The package covers the option to be
involved in the selection process for the winners,
of opportunities that come your way. I
branded publicity material, quotes in press releases,
am flattered and honoured to receive this an interview slot as part of the radio campaign,
award and would like to thank the AoC and
“ a speaking slot at the presentation ceremony
and invitations for up to ten guests to attend the
Myerscough College for nominating me.
ceremony to meet the winners, Colleges, students,
Christine Walkden, AoC Gold Award winner 2009, Ministers, MPs and Peers.
Myerscough College

7. Part Sponsors contribute to core funding which the
Trust uses to support the running of the AoC Gold
Awards. The package includes shared branding of
publicity material and invitations for up to three
guests to attend the ceremony.
Sponsorship benefits include:
`` Reaching over 6m people via the AoC’s online,
press and radio campaigns – a combined PR
value of over £107,000*
“ I hope that Kirklees College continues
to inspire generations of talented young
“
people, whose skills are the life blood of our
`` Involvement in the selection process of the country.
winners
Baroness Warsi, Gold Award winner 2011, Kirklees
College
`` Branding on all publicity material including
the nomination form, all correspondence sent
to all UK Colleges, the AoC website and event
invitations, College certificates and programme
`` Meeting with the winners, Colleges, students,
Ministers, MPs and Peers at the national
presentation ceremony at the House of Commons
(*figures from the AoC Gold Awards 2011
programme)
“ I owe a big debt to Exeter College. It was
the place at which I was first introduced
“
to the potential power and reach of
We also have opportunities to sponsor
economics.
an AoC Research Fellow, to fully fund
or part support a Student Bursary Spencer Dale (Chief Economist for the Bank of
Scheme or become a Silent Auction England), Gold Award winner 2010, Exeter College
donor, giving items or services to the
Trust. For more information please ring
Alice Thiagaraj on 020 7034 9917 or
email alice_thiagaraj@aoc.co.uk.

8. Corporate social Corporate Social Responsibility
responsibility
Advances in social media give everyone an
We are able to provide your organisation with
instant voice with a ready audience. Unethical or
an opportunity to fulfil part of its CSR agenda
destructive practices can quickly fuel conversations
by offering sponsorship of a number of carefully
online. Organisations are accountable for their
selected programmes. Each benefits the practice and
actions like never before.
aims of further education while promoting your
brand values and reputation in the sector.
“ 88% of consumers said they were more likely
to buy from a company that supports and
“ Our sponsorship opportunities can endorse your
CSR policies to help win new business, increase
customer retention, generate innovation and learning
engages in activities to improve society.
and enhance your influence in our sector.
Better Business Journey, UK Small Business Consortium
International Mentoring Programme
One example is the African Mentoring Programme
- a unique project linking UK College staff to
their African peers. Its origins lie in the voluntary
work that has been carried out in the last decade
by serving and retired College staff, working
with and supporting colleagues in leadership and
management roles in African vocational institutions.
The pilot programme which commenced in March
2011 has demonstrated the mutually beneficial links
that can be established. AoC and other key partners
have been raising awareness of the programme,
through presentations, media relations and other
dissemination activities. The AoC Charitable Trust
is now looking for new partners and sponsors to
join us to help grow the valuable links established
through the pilot programme.
AoC International Mentoring Project
Botswana

9. Sponsor benefits include:
`` Opportunity to contribute to valuable and
sustainable partnerships between UK Colleges
and Africa
`` Association with a programme that will make
a valuable contribution to capacity building
Africa’s Vocational Training and Education
sector
`` Opportunity to contribute to UK based
dissemination events
`` Chance to establish presence and links with
AoC’s African partners
`` Chance to meet and work with the programme’s
other stakeholders and share ideas on working
with African partners
`` Presence on programme literature and publicity
material
`` Opportunity to meet and work with Colleges
and College professionals with an international
focus
For more information on CSR opportunities
including the International Monitoring Programme
please ring Alice Thiagaraj on 020 7034 9917 or email
alice_thiagaraj@aoc.co.uk.

11. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sponsorship expression of interest form
Name: ....................................................................................................................................
Job title: .................................................................................................................................
Organisation: ......................................................................................................................
Address: ...............................................................................................................................
..................................................................Post code: ...........................................................
I would be interested in supporting the following areas of the AoC Charitable Trust (please tick all that
apply):
AoC Beacon Awards as an award sponsor @ from £15,000 per year 
AoC Beacon Awards as a core sponsor @ c£5,000 per year 
Friend of the AoC Beacon Awards @ minimum £20 per year 
AoC Gold Awards as sole sponsor @ from £20,000 per year for three years 
AoC Gold Awards as a part sponsor @ from £5,000 per year 
International Mentoring Programme sponsor @ from £10,000 per year 
AoC Research Fellow @ c£20,000 per year 
Silent Auction donor 
Please specify the item(s) or service(s) you would like to donate:
.................................................................................................................................
AoC Student Bursary Scheme supporting a complete bursary @ c£25,000 
AoC Student Bursary Scheme part-supporting a bursary @ from £5,000 
General contribution to support the running of the Trust 
The Association of Colleges Charitable Trust is a Registered Charity in England and Wales (charity
number 1040631) and in Scotland (charity number SC039064). As such, all monies donated to the Trust
are restricted and may only be used for the purpose specified by the donor.
Most companies donating to the Trust will be eligible to claim corporation tax relief of up to 5% of the
donation, depending on the amount given. Further information can be found at the HMRC web site.
The Trust can maximise the value of its donations from individuals by reclaiming tax from HMRC on
its ‘gross’ equivalent i.e. for every £1 donated, the Trust will be able to claim an extra 25 pence.
For more information on sponsorship opportunities please ring Alice Thiagaraj on 020 7034 9917 or
email alice_thiagaraj@aoc.co.uk.

12. ©Association of Colleges 2011
2 - 5 Stedham Place London WC1A 1HU
Tel: 020 7034 9900 Fax: 020 7034 9950
Email: charitabletrust@aoc.co.uk
Web: www. aoc.co.uk