United Colleges Group is pleased to announce it has been awarded its first Investors in People® (IIP) accreditation.
United Colleges Group (UCG) (formed of City of Westminster College (CWC), the College of North West London (CNWL) and the Cockpit Theatre), which provides courses and training across five campuses in the capital, has been officially recognised with the IIP Standard Mark in a testament to UCG’s unwavering commitment to employee development and organisational excellence.
The college is delighted that its positive track record of working with students, communities, government and employers has been recognised following a far-reaching and detailed assessment of the working environment at UCG, consisting of focus groups and individual interviews.
Collaborative working and professional development is highlighted in the report, where IIP found that more than 70% of staff look for improvement ideas from their colleagues, and 63% believe there is a focus at UCG on continued improvement.
Designing roles within UCG was categorised as “advanced” in the report, with more than 70% of staff in agreement that roles are designed to achieve the college objectives, and 61% saying they are trusted to try new approaches in the way that they work.
UCG is also well positioned to create sustainable success according to IIP, that categorises UCGs’ ability to embrace change and understand the external context as “advanced”. UCG’s strategic plan reflects the importance of context, in its commitment to “recruiting and retaining a diverse professional staff, student staff, leaders and governors that represent our student body and local community.”
IIP made special mention of the standout scores within UCG’s Maida Vale campus, where staff are very satisfied with how they are managed and developed. Overall, across UCG, IIP highlight the significant investment and consultation taking place with members of the SLT (Strategic Leadership Team) and CLT (College Leadership Team).
Some of the staff responses in the assessment included:
Stephen Davis, CEO and Group Principal, United Colleges Group, said: “United Colleges Group is, and always will be, committed to providing outstanding world-class education and skills.
“And, so, it was with great pride to learn that we had achieved the Investors in People® Standard — an accreditation that is known all over the world, which is granted to organisations that demonstrate a clear commitment to the people within them.
“The Investors in People® Assessor found noticeable improvements throughout the college. These included UCG looking outwards to strengthen the infrastructure, policies and procedures required to achieve high performance.”
“My experience at College of Northwest London, has been exciting, it has been thrilling and it has been full of opportunities, and we have the tutors that help us whenever we’re in need. We go on educational trips to get a feel for what university life is like. We have the careers advisors that help us on our path, our university path.”
“The facilities here are brilliant. You have range of courses you can study. My teachers in the Performing Arts department have got history in the industry, which is very useful. You get to ask them for advice and actual knowledge from the industry, and take that into your own work within the college also afterwards. ”
“At City of Westminster College, my experience has been the best of all the other colleges I’ve attended. The reason I like CWC is because the teachers make my journey easier with assessment and exams. I’m a Level Two Science student and I enjoy my lessons because most of them are practical, which are helpful for me. I love studying at CWC because you meet people from other countries – all over the world and from all different communities.”
“My favourite thing about studying here has definitely got to be the teachers. They’re really helpful, kind and in the industry, so it’s good.”
“The technical knowledge and hands-on experience gained during my apprenticeship at College of North West London have been invaluable, particularly in understanding site processes, health and safety requirements and the understanding of electrical systems.”
“My experience studying at City of Westminster College has been amazing. It’s been so welcoming; I enjoy it very much because of the staff members we have here. They’re very approachable and I could come to them with any question, and it will be answered straight away. And if I come early for a class, I can use the Learning Resources Centre, I can use the computers, the books, just to continue all my studies outside the classroom time.”
“The training process was seamless. I had good instructors who were very flexible, supporting people of all learning levels. On the last day after our exams, a security company came and did a presentation. We had the opportunity to have an interview afterwards. I told them about my experiences, and they said I would be a good fit. I formally applied for a role and started with the company soon after. Getting into security has opened doors for me. I hope I will continue to take steps up the career ladder.”
“Coming to study at the City of Westminster College was the best decision that I had ever made. The teachers are very accommodating – they help you learn things in a way that might be easier for you to learn. They are very supportive and I think that’s one of the best things about learning here.”
“I was so grateful to have won Apprentice of the Year at the West London Business Awards 2026, I could not have done it without the support my company Size Group and the College of North West London.”
