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Updates: Colleges & Business Units | Commercial Outlets and Nurseries
Advice for: Students, Parents and Carers | College Applicants | Apprentices
The Chief Executive Officer of EKC Group, Graham Razey, has received his Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) award from His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.
The ceremony took place on 9 November 2021 almost two years after Graham was given the award in the Queen's New Year Honours list, following a delay due to the pandemic. Graham received his award for services to education, having worked within the sector since 1994, starting his career as a lecturer before going on to lead the transformation of further education across East Kent over the past decade.
Starting his first principalship at the former Thanet College (which is now Broadstairs College), he has worked to develop outstanding provision, incorporating the former K College campuses in Dover and Folkestone, before also turning around the fortunes of Canterbury College and Sheppey College.
Since he was given the award in December 2019, Graham has gone on to welcome Ashford College and the former Hadlow campus at Spring Lane into the EKC Group of Colleges.
Alongside his work to ensure the communities he serves across East Kent have fantastic opportunities in education, Graham has also worked at a regional and national level to develop the prominence of further education. He is a ‘National Leader in Further Education’ which sees him help colleges facing significant challenges across the country, and also sits as a member of the Principals’ Reference Group, which helps to guide Government policy in the sector.
Graham Razey, Chief Executive Officer of EKC Group, said: “It was a genuinely amazing moment to receive my OBE in person from The Duke of Cambridge. Every year you see the pictures of people attending to receive the awards bestowed upon them, but to be there in person, with my wife, son and my parents was a truly incredible experience and one which will stay with me forever.
“I feel truly humble to get this award, and particularly so after colleagues across our Group’s family of Colleges and Business Units have shown such absolute commitment to doing the right thing by the communities we serve through what has been the most challenging period of my professional career during the pandemic. I have a genuinely incredible team, who’ve really made this award possible and I’m so proud to lead EKC Group into its bright future.”
