{"id":23556,"date":"2025-11-05T15:43:27","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T15:43:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thebusinessculture.co.uk\/hey\/?post_type=good-news&p=23556"},"modified":"2025-11-05T15:44:33","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T15:44:33","slug":"hull-college-celebrates-student-success-and-honours-community-leaders-with-order-of-distinction-awards","status":"publish","type":"good-news","link":"https:\/\/thebusinessculture.co.uk\/hey\/good-news\/hull-college-celebrates-student-success-and-honours-community-leaders-with-order-of-distinction-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"Hull College Celebrates Student Success and Honours Community Leaders with Order of Distinction Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hull College celebrated the achievements of its graduating students in a memorable ceremony held at Hull Minster on Tuesday 4th November, where two highly respected local figures - Kathryn Shillito, Executive Director at Hull BID, and Andy Sykes, Plant Director at Siemens Gamesa<\/a> - were each presented with the Order of Distinction in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the city and region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Order of Distinction celebrates individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the community, made a significant impact in their field, and inspired others through their work. It is one of the college\u2019s most prestigious accolades, presented annually at the Graduation Ceremony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previous recipients of the honour include Beckie Hart (CBI Regional Director for Yorkshire and the Humber), Dominic Gibbons (Managing Director of Wykeland Group), Councillor Anne Handley (Leader of East Riding Council), Tim Shaw (former CEO of KCOM), Lucy Blackley (Founder and CEO of Bombyx PLM), and Tim Rix CBE (Chairman at J.R. Rix & Sons).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recognising Local Leadership and Impact<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kathryn Shillito, a proud Hullensian and former Hull College student, has dedicated her career to driving growth, pride, and opportunity within the city. Since joining Hull BID in 2009, Kathryn has worked tirelessly to support more than 800 city centre businesses, champion regeneration, and deliver events that bring thousands of people into Hull. Her enduring connection with Hull College continues today, with Hull BID currently collaborating with Art and Design students on a city centre art trail celebrating their creativity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflecting on receiving the Order of Distinction, Kathryn said: \u201cI\u2019m absolutely thrilled and deeply honoured to receive this award from Hull College - a place that played such a formative part in my own journey. To be recognised for doing what I love in a city I love means so much to me. Hull has changed enormously over the years, but its community spirit, creativity and resilience remain as strong as ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andy Sykes, who became Plant Director at Siemens Gamesa in 2020, has been a driving force behind Hull\u2019s status as a key player in the global renewable energy sector. Having joined the company during the early stages of the Hull factory\u2019s development in 2016, Andy\u2019s leadership has been pivotal in establishing the site as a lead factory within the Siemens Gamesa global network. Passionate about developing future talent, Andy continues to work closely with education providers to ensure the next generation of young people have access to meaningful and sustainable career pathways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On receiving his award, Andy said: \u201cIt\u2019s a real privilege to be recognised by Hull College, an institution that plays such a vital role in shaping the future workforce of our region. Working in renewable energy has shown me how much potential there is here in Hull, and I\u2019m passionate about helping young people see that they can build an exciting, fulfilling career right on their doorstep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honouring Achievement and Excellence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking about this year\u2019s Order of Distinction recipients, Debra Gray MBE, Principal & Chief Executive at Hull College, said: \u201cBoth Kathryn and Andy embody the values we celebrate through the Order of Distinction - leadership, innovation, and a deep commitment to community. Kathryn has been instrumental in transforming Hull city centre into a vibrant, welcoming place for residents, visitors, and businesses alike. Andy\u2019s work at Siemens Gamesa showcases how our region is leading the way in renewable energy and sustainability. They are both shining examples of what it means to make a difference, and we are delighted to honour them this year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celebrating Student Success<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alongside the Order of Distinction presentations, the ceremony also recognised the achievements of this year\u2019s graduating students - celebrating their hard work, resilience, and success throughout their studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflecting the high standards of teaching and learning across the college\u2019s degree-level programmes, more than 25% of graduating students achieved the highest possible outcome of either a First or Distinction, underlining Hull College\u2019s commitment to providing exceptional higher education opportunities that empower students to excel academically and professionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several special awards were also presented to students who have demonstrated exceptional talent, progress, and achievement in their respective fields, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n