12 September 2025
At Skills and Education Group, our history isn’t just a record of our past; it’s the foundation of our future. Since 1912, we have been dedicated to making a positive impact through education, and our commitment to creating social impact through education remains as strong today as it was then.
Our journey began during a period of great social change in the early 20th century. Founded as the East Midlands Educational Union, our original mission was to unite teaching institutions and education authorities to make learning more accessible for everyone, regardless of their background. That purpose has guided our evolution, and today, we continue to champion inclusion, opportunity, and lifelong learning for all.
From Our Archive to Our Mission Today
The artefacts we’ve preserved tell a powerful story of impact. You can see it in our Edwardian stamp press, which once embossed vocational certificates, and in our founding report from 1911-1912, which outlines our initial vision. Our collection of prospectuses from the mid-20th century shows that we offered a wide range of courses, from mining to shorthand and science to textiles. Our qualifications were designed to open doors for working-class people. Today, we still champion many of these sectors, including business and science, and we are proud to be the Number One Awarding Organisation for Textiles qualifications. This heritage is particularly meaningful as it links to the very building where we will be celebrating our past: the Adams Building at Nottingham College, which has its own rich history in the textile industry.
Join Us to Celebrate Our Heritage
We’re excited to share our history and a never-before-seen archive with you as part of Heritage Open Days, England’s largest festival of history and culture. On Saturday, 13 September, we invite you to the Adams Building at Nottingham College for a special showcase of our past.
This unique event is made possible by our incredible curators, Emma Thompson and Robyn Whalley, and through our collaboration with Nottingham College. The Adams Building will bring our archive to life, allowing you to discover how our past connects to our mission today. To make the day even more engaging, we will be hosting a badge-making workshop with Eliza Gilbert, where you can get creative and create a personalised badge. This is a hands-on opportunity to connect with our brand and our mission.
Our commitment to preserving and sharing our history highlights what makes us different. We don’t just reflect on our past; we use it to show how our legacy of making a difference continues today. This link to our history and our mission is why we are the Awarding Organisation of choice, with our family of brands including BIIAB, Skills and Education Group Awards, and Skills and Education Group Access.
Connect with Our Mission
Our story is one of people making a difference, and we invite you to join us. We offer a range of opportunities to get involved and benefit from our century of experience.
-
Become a member and gain access to a network of like-minded professionals and organisations dedicated to improving education.
-
Enhance Your Skills with our Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs are designed to help you stay current and effective in your field. Explore our courses and workshops.
Our Foundation provides grants and funding to projects that align with our mission to create social impact through education. Discover how you can contribute or apply for support.
We are proud of our history and the impact we make. By celebrating our past, we are reinforcing our commitment to building a brighter future through education, together.
Learn more about us.
