Principal and CEO of Cheshire College – South & West, Dhesi, has been awarded the OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to education in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the sector.
Commenting on the announcement, Dhesi said: “I am both surprised and humbled to receive this honour. I share this award with all those colleagues that I have had, and continue to have, the privilege to work alongside. Colleagues that are talented and passionate about nurturing talent, empowering people to achieve their full potential and making a real impact with the businesses and local communities. I am so fortunate to work in the Further Education sector, a sector that transforms lives and communities.”
In his almost three decades of service to education, across North Wales and Cheshire, Jasbir Dhesi (known as Dhesi) has been a champion of Education and skills, working with employers and partners to support economic growth and development within the region and its surrounding areas.
Joining Yale College, Wrexham in 1992, Dhesi rose to the position of Principal 19 years later. Eventually leaving to become the new Principal/CEO of South Cheshire College, having led Yale College into a merger with Deeside College to create Coleg Cambria. In 2017, he led on a second successful merger of South Cheshire College and West Cheshire College, forming what is now known as Cheshire College – South & West; the largest Further Education provider in the region offering exciting opportunities to 11,000 learners and 1,000 apprentices.
A member of the Employers’ Skills and Education Board of Cheshire & Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Dhesi represents all Cheshire and Warrington colleges and training providers, whilst also being an active member on the Crewe Town Investment Board, Chair of North Wales Science Board, a Director of Cheshire Commonwealth Association and Trustee of Shavington Academy.
With a total investment of £165m to date, Cheshire College continues to invest in the latest technology and bespoke training facilities that provide learners with real work environments and aspirational goals in a range of curriculum areas including A Levels, Full-time courses, Apprenticeships, Part-time courses for adults and Higher Education.
In the same year as Cheshire College’s fifth anniversary, two brand new facilities will open on Campus this September, which will feature a new state-of-the-art Digital Centre at the Chester Campus and new Engineering facilities at the Ellesmere Port Campus.
Dhesi added: “In addition to acknowledging and thanking all the colleagues I have worked alongside; I must also thank those leaders, friends and family that inspired and mentored me in my career. I have been given amazing opportunities and support, in essence a reflection of what Further Education is all about.”
“The best part of Further Education are the students; they are our real inspiration. Nothing will ever beat the joy that I get from meeting former students and hearing how their lives and careers have developed.”
“Looking ahead at how much more myself and the team around me can achieve, we have so many exciting plans for the future. I want to look back and be able to say: “Wow we really achieved a lot for our students, communities, employers and the region.””