Double Silver Teaching Awards for SERC
18th Jun 2026
The culinary arts team and a lecturer at South Eastern Regional College (SERC) have been named Silver Award winners in the prestigious Pearson National Teaching Awards 2026.
Scooping the Silver Award for Further Education (FE) Team of the Year, SERC’s culinary arts team has developed a strong legacy of embedding food poverty and social inclusion initiatives into the curriculum. Their innovative project-based learning Food Poverty Programme means students collaborate with local food banks and community groups by preparing meals and leading food demonstrations, and supporting large-scale community events to raise awareness of, and help tackle, food poverty.
Stephen McGreevy, Lecturer and Lead Business Skills Manager, won a Silver Award for FE Lecturer of the Year. Stephen is widely recognised for his leadership in sustainability education across Northern Ireland. His pioneering work includes the development of unique Level 5 OCN NI qualifications in retrofit coordination and green technology—the first of their kind in Northern Ireland. He also led the creation of a state-of-the-art retrofit training facility, equipping students with essential skills for a Net Zero future and supporting industry’s transition to sustainable practices.
SERC’s Green Skills Team were also Highly Commended in the Team of the Year category.
Tommy Martin, Principal & Chief Executive of SERC, who presented the Awards at a special event hosted in the College said, “We are absolutely delighted for SERC to be recognised with not one, but two, Silver Pearson National Teaching Awards for our culinary arts team and lecturer Stephen McGreevy. These Awards are testament to the remarkable work happening every single day across the college, helping people transform their lives.”
He added, “At SERC, we champion the benefits of choosing to study at an FE College to absolutely anyone, at any stage of their lives. Whatever path a person wishes to take in life; there is a route for them with us. The work that the culinary arts team and Stephen have been doing, day in and day out, epitomises that sense of purpose which is at the heart of everything we do and an understanding that education and skills are about building a stronger more inclusive society.”
Tommy concluded, “Congratulations to all award recipients and best of luck for the Silver winners for the Gold Awards in November.”
This is the fourth time SERC has been awarded a Silver Pearson National Teaching Award for Further Education Team of the Year since 2019, when the Science team won the award, followed by the Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Environment team (2023) and the College’s Engineering team (2024). The College’s Little SERC creche team won a Silver Award for Early Years Team of the Year (2023).
The Culinary Arts and Hospitality team achieved a Bronze Award for FE Team of the Year in 2024.
In addition, since 2021, SERC lecturers have been recognised with individual awards for FE Lecturer of the Year: Paul Mercer, Silver (2021); Aine McGreeghan, Silver (2023); Pauline Blair, Bronze (2025) and Stefanie Campbell won Gold (2021) in the Digital Innovator of the Year category.
SERC’s culinary arts team and lecturer Stephen McGreevey are among 99 outstanding teachers, lecturers, leaders, support staff, and education settings honoured as Silver Winners in this year’s Awards on National Thank a Teacher Day (17 June), in recognition of their dedication and impact. All Silver winners will progress to the final stage for consideration for a Pearson Gold Teaching Award, which will be announced at a prestigious awards ceremony in London and on BBC One’s The One Show later this year.
