Bigger and better!

The Educate Awards 2015 promises to be even bigger than 2014, thanks to some exciting new additions to the judging panel.

Joining the panel this year is football icon Robbie Fowler, Radio City breakfast host Leanne Campbell and Olympian and managing director of Raise The Bar, Steve Smith.

The new additions to the panel come at a time of growth for the annual awards celebration, which saw a record number of entries in 2014.

To mark this growth, the awards will now accept entries from schools in the boroughs of Lancashire and Cheshire, in addition to schools in the Liverpool City Region (Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, Wirral, St Helens and Halton).

Kim O’Brien, executive editor of Educate Magazine, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Robbie, Leanne and Steve to our growing panel of experts and education champions. They are all inspirational figures, who have had tremendous success in their chosen fields.

“With Robbie’s sporting insight, Leanne’s performing arts background and Steve’s incredible Olympic journey and business knowledge, I’m certain they will help us celebrate the very best in education. They are all great assets to the judging panel.”

Returning to the judging panel are Councillor Gary Millar, Liverpool’s cabinet member for business, enterprise and investment; Chris Walker, regional managing editor of Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales; Lesley Martin-Wright, chief executive of Knowsley Chamber; Mark Beedles, managing director of Connex Education; Fiona Barnet, director of The Foundry Agency; Andrew Pimbley of Claremont Farm and Wirral’s Farm Feast; and the education team at the respected Everyman and Playhouse Theatres.

Earlier this year it was announced Connex Education will return as a title sponsor, alongside associate sponsors Adlib Solutions, Carillion plc and The Foundry Agency.

Further associate sponsors now confirmed are Schools 4 Health Knowsley, eCadets, Paul Crowley & Co, Liverpool Hope University, Greater Merseyside Learning Providers’ Federation, Vivark and The City of Liverpool College.

Entries are now open. Closing date for entries is Friday 10th July 2015. For a full list of award categories and more details on how to enter, go to: www.educateawards.co.uk