A Newcastle College colleague has been nominated to attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to education and skills.
Teaching, Learning and Assessment Coach, Lindsay Gaskill, who also serves as NCG's Quality Skills Lead for the Centre of Excellence, has been put forward by WorldSkills UK for the honour. The nomination recognises her work in embedding WorldSkills UK programmes across NCG's colleges, supporting learners to develop the skills they need to progress into employment.
Lindsay, who is set to retire this term, will attend the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on Friday 8 May 2026, at one of three events being held to celebrate individuals who have made a significant impact in their field.
She said: “It’s a real honour to be nominated to attend the Royal Garden Party. I’ve been fortunate to work with so many dedicated colleagues across Newcastle College and NCG who are committed to delivering high-quality teaching and learning every day.
“Working with WorldSkills UK has been a highlight of my career, helping to embed competition-based learning that raises aspirations and supports learners to develop the skills they need for the workplace. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together and grateful for the opportunity to be recognised in this way as I approach retirement.”
Parisa Shirazi, Director of Standards at WorldSkills UK, said: “We were delighted to nominate Lindsay to attend the Buckingham Palace Garden Party in recognition of her outstanding contribution to embedding WorldSkills UK programmes, including the Centre of Excellence and local skills competitions, across NCG.
“Lindsay’s passion and professionalism have played a key role in shaping NCG’s engagement with WorldSkills UK. Through her commitment, learners across the group are benefiting from these programmes and gaining the work-ready skills they need to thrive in their careers. We are proud to see Lindsay recognised at such a prestigious event.”
During her time at Newcastle College and across NCG, Lindsay has played a key role in strengthening links with WorldSkills UK and championing high standards in teaching and learning. Her work has supported colleagues to embed competition-based learning into the curriculum, helping to raise aspirations and drive excellence. NCG is a member of the WorldSkills UK Centre of Excellence, run in partnership with specialist awarding organisation NCFE.