Step Ahead and Wellcome Collection win big at the Mayor of London Adult Learning Awards

It was a proud night for all of us at Step Ahead as our partner employer, Wellcome Collection, was named Champion Employer for Skills and Progression at the Mayor of London Adult Learning Awards.

To make the moment even sweeter, our brilliant trainer Emily Bunu was Highly Commended in the Inspirational Tutor category.

The ceremony, held at City Hall on 13 November, celebrated organisations and individuals making a real difference to adult learning in London. For us, it was also a chance to showcase the power of partnership - and the incredible journeys of learners whose lives have changed through opportunity and belief.

Step Ahead has partnered Wellcome Collection for the recruitment of its front-of-house team for more than 10 years. Together, we’ve created a pathway that connects unemployed Londoners with rewarding roles - not just jobs, but good work with real prospects.

Sahan de Abrew, our Head of Employability, explained it simply:

“Step Ahead runs fantastic and rewarding online accredited training courses to help unemployed Londoners access the Good Work that Wellcome are promoting.”

Our CEO, Jackie Bedford, added that for many learners, having a guaranteed interview at the end of training is life-changing:

“Lots of people that come onto our training have been unemployed for some time. The great thing about it is when they know there’s actually a real-life job opportunity waiting when they finish the course. That knowledge gives them hope - and motivation.”

Teresa de Fretes, who now works at Wellcome Collection after completing our training programme, said:

“I felt quite despondent about returning to work. Then, when I was put in touch with Step Ahead and they helped me every step of the way, I grew in confidence – and here I am today.”

Sahan went on to describe the training itself:

“Our trainers deliver two qualifications: Level 2 Customer Excellence in Hospitality, which equips candidates with the skills and knowledge to perform in roles at the Wellcome Collection, and Personal and Social Development, which helps learners improve communication, confidence, and teamwork.”

For Asastasiia Dudar, who joined the course soon after arriving from Ukraine, that support made all the difference:

“By the end of the course, I already had a job at Wellcome. I worried I wasn’t good enough – but Step Ahead told me, ‘You are good enough. We see the potential in you, and we’re here to help.’”

At Wellcome Collection, values matter as much as skills.

Eleanor Hennessey explained:

“Everyone who works here receives the London Living Wage or above. We know that good work contributes to good health and better experiences for our employees.”

Jackie agreed:

“Wellcome are deeply committed to treating people well and making sure everyone has access to progression opportunities,” she said.

And as Anita Jones, another Step Ahead learner now thriving at Wellcome, put it perfectly:

“It’s a nice place to get up and go to work in the morning.”

For us, this recognition goes far beyond an award. It’s proof that when training providers and employers truly collaborate - matching skills, values and opportunity - lives change.

As Jackie summed up:

“We’re incredibly proud of this partnership with Wellcome Collection. It proves what can happen when employers invest in people’s potential and training providers go beyond the classroom to connect learning with genuine opportunity.”