MTU Access Service has been named winner of the Career Impact Strategy – Employability, Access & Skills Development award at the Education Awards 2026, recently recognised for Ready Steady Work, an inclusive employability programme that has created meaningful, sustainable pathways to employment for students supported by the Disability Support Service.

The programme's strength lies in the depth and intentionality of its design. Rather than offering generic employability support, Ready Steady Work targets the specific barriers facing students with disabilities, working directly with employer partners to develop inclusive recruitment practices and paid supported internships that open doors to equitable, sustainable employment. Work placement staff are equipped with tailored resources, ensuring that the support extends into the workplace itself rather than ending at the point of placement.

Innovative partnerships and a retiree mentoring component give the programme a human dimension that complements its structural rigour, connecting students with experienced professionals who can offer guidance grounded in real-world career experience. A structured framework ties these elements together into a cohesive model with clear, measurable outcomes backed by strong employer testimonials and demonstrated national reach.

Judges were clear on what set the initiative apart. "Through innovative partnerships, retiree mentoring, and a structured framework, Ready Steady Work has created a meaningful, sustainable impact. The programme's clear outcomes, strong employer testimonials, and national reach highlight its success in driving long-term career impact and skills development," the panel stated.

The Career Impact Strategy – Employability, Access & Skills Development award recognises Irish-based third level institutions, technical training colleges, and organisations that have developed and put into practice the most effective career impact strategies, assessed across programme design, student development, mentoring and internship initiatives, industry exposure, and the measurable outcomes delivered for students and the wider community.

The Education Awards recognise and celebrate excellence across the third level education sector on the island of Ireland. The 2026 awards gala took place on 16 April at the Johnstown Estate, Enfield, Co. Meath.

The 2026 judging panel was coordinated by Willie Donnelly, Director of Research and Innovation at the Technical Higher Education Association, and included senior figures from across Irish and international higher education, among them Professor Georgina Andrews, Vice-Chancellor of Bath Spa University, Professor Rachael Langford, President and Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff Metropolitan University, and Professor Colette Henry of Dundalk Institute of Technology.

For the complete 2026 winners list, category insights, and institution profiles, visit the official Education Awards website and subscribe to the newsletter for updates and insights.