Principal and Chief Executive of the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London , Paul Head (second from left) with Prime Minister Gordon Brown at a special Downing Street function. 

Principal and Chief Executive of the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London, Paul Head, was invited to a function at Number 10 Downing Street on March 15, with Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Leaders from the highest performing and most quickly improving colleges in the country were invited to the event, which helped to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of their colleges.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and Further Education Minister Kevin Brennan were also in attendance.

The Prime Minister said he was hugely impressed with each college’s commitment to helping young people gain skills and training.

“Colleges are at the heart of their communities, helping people through the recession and key to the UK’s economic recovery.  Training the next generation of engineers, scientists, teachers and designers, they are developing the skills we need to prosper in the decades ahead.”

Paul Head said: “I was delighted to receive the invitation and to have the opportunity to celebrate the work of staff and learners at the college, who have contributed to our growing success as one of the top 10% of colleges in the country and also ensured our status as a Beacon College.

“It’s not every day that you get to visit Downing Street.  It was a fantastic opportunity for college leaders to come together and really highlight the impact the sector has had on developing skills for young people and adults in every vocational sector,” he said.