College triumphs at Chamber of Commerce Awards

Solihull College & University Centre and Stratford-upon-Avon College are celebrating after winning the Solihull Digital Revolutionary award at the Solihull Chamber of Commerce Awards 2026.

The evening was a celebration of the outstanding contributions of businesses, organisations and individuals to Solihull, its economy and the wider community.

The College were delighted to win the award for its cyber security exercise, ‘Solihull Unplugged’. The exercise tested the organisation’s resilience to a cyber-attack and helped put in place mitigations to ensure the College can operate without the use of essential operating systems in such a scenario.

Solihull Unplugged provided valuable insight into the effectiveness of existing processes, communication channels and decision-making during challenging circumstances, helping to inform future planning and continuous improvement.

Director of Digital Transformation and IT, Dave Gartside, commented: “This award is a testament to the incredible team effort behind SCUC Unplugged. It recognises the commitment of colleagues across the College who embraced an innovative approach to cyber resilience and helped demonstrate that protecting education and supporting learners is everyone’s responsibility. We are proud that our work is being recognised as an example of how organisations can prepare, adapt and learn together.”

Adding to the celebrations, dance students from Stratford-upon-Avon College entertained guests, showcasing their talent and helping to create a memorable atmosphere between award presentations.

Congratulations to all those shortlisted and recognised at the event. The dedication, passion and commitment shown by individuals and organisations across the region was clear to see, with a strong sense of camaraderie and pride evident throughout the event.