Birmingham Dogs Home has proudly become just the second organisation to achieve the prestigious Gold Award as part of Solihull College & University Centre’s Social Value Excellence Scheme.
The award recognises outstanding commitment to supporting education, skills, and inclusivity.
The local charity has offered valuable apprenticeships and regular work placements, providing Animal Welfare students hands-on experience in a live, working environment. Their dedication to inclusive employer initiatives has also been celebrated, from recognition at the Apprenticeship Impact Awards, to championing mental health, neurodiversity, and both Birmingham and Solihull Pride events.
Birmingham Dogs Home sit on the College’s employer board, while also enabling professional development opportunities for staff through CPD in the behaviour unit to support future student workshops. They have delivered guest lecturers, been involved in career festivals, and provided a live project brief for T-Level students.
To demonstrate the amount of work involved in running the Dog’s Home, they even organised a mini conference that offered students unique insights into every aspect of animal rescue operations. This wide-ranging impact highlights Birmingham Dogs Home’s commitment not just to animals, but to people, learning, and the future of the sector.
Head of Operations, Areika Bickerton, commented: “At Birmingham Dogs Home, everything we do is about supporting dogs in need and the communities around us. To be recognised with the GOLD award in the Social Value Excellence scheme is a huge honour and a reflection of the care, compassion and commitment that runs through our team. We are thrilled to be one of the very first organisations to receive this recognition and look forward to continuing our work together to make a difference.”
This achievement is indicative of the collaboration between the two organisations and the mutual benefits for all involved.
To find out more about the College’s Social Value Excellence scheme or to find out how your organisation can work with the College, contact the Employer Services team on 0121 678 7181 or email employerservices@solihull.ac.uk
