University wins national award for widening participation and is commended among UK’s best

The University has been recognised among the very best universities in the UK for widening access to higher education, receiving both a national award and a major institutional commendation at the 2026 National Education Opportunities Network (NEON) Awards.  

The University won the Widening Access (Outreach) Initiative Award for its Aspire2Uni (A2U) programme and was also commended in the Higher Education Institution of the Year category, placing it among the top-performing universities in the sector in a highly competitive field of more than 120 applications. The accolade comes after the University was awarded a top three position in the HEPI Social Mobility Index, underlining its long-standing impact in supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds.  

Aspire2Uni is a long-term outreach programme delivered in partnership with Virtual Schools within Staffordshire County Council and all councils across the Black Country. The project supports young people who have experienced care - one of the most underrepresented groups in higher education.  

Professor Ebrahim Adia, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, said: 

“We are incredibly proud to receive this national recognition, both for Aspire2Uni and for our wider work as an institution to widen participation in higher education. At the University of Wolverhampton, creating opportunity, transforming lives and opening doors to the future is at the heart of everything we do. 

“To be commended in the Higher Education Institution of the Year category, placing us among the very best in the sector, also reflects the strength and consistency of our approach.   Aspire2Uni is a powerful example of this in action. Through sustained partnerships and long-term support, we are helping young people to raise their ambitions, overcome barriers and realise their potential. 

“I would like to thank our dedicated staff and partners for their continued commitment - this recognition is a testament to their work, and to the resilience and ambition of the young people we support.” 

Photo caption: left to right: Dipisha Patel, A2U Participation Officer, Melanie Harris, A2U Co-ordinator, Sukhdeep Duhra, Data and Evaluation Manager, Gemma Kay, Associate Director Student Success, Natalie Latham, Head of Access and Widening Participation and Gareth Snell, MP