Recognition of Services to Further Education

Andrew Roberts is awarded fellowship in recognition of services to Further Education.

The managing director of Bury-headquartered technology solutions specialist Avoira, Dr. Andrew Roberts, has been made a fellow of the Chartered Institution for Further Education.

Dr. Roberts, who is the longstanding chair of governors at Bolton College, received the accolade in recognition of his services to the further education sector.

The award acknowledged his contribution to promoting technical education and skills in line with the CIFE’s own mission to highlight the excellence of further education and skills training providers within its membership.

His fellowship was conferred by the CIFE’s chair, Lord Lingfield, at a special ceremony hosted at the historic Apothecaries’ Hall in the City of London.

Acknowledging Dr Roberts’ award, Lord Lingfield said: “On behalf of the Chartered Institution for Further Education, I was delighted to confer its Fellowship on Dr Andrew Roberts. This recognition acknowledges the significant service Andrew has given to Further Education, most especially, as a governor and Chair of Bolton College since 2011

“In 2015 he steered the College successfully through a merger with the University of Bolton to achieve greater financial security for the organisation and enhanced outcomes and opportunities for learners.

“He continues to be an advocate for apprenticeships and a generous contributor of his substantial governance experience via several FE groups for the benefit of the wider sector.”

As well as being its chair of governors, Andrew is a former student who credits Bolton College with kickstarting his highly successful business career.

In 1978 the college secured him an apprenticeship with a local technology business. He subsequently worked his way up from the benches to lead a management buy-out of the company which, now known as known as Avoira, is a £25 million-pound turnover technology solution provider.

Commenting on his fellowship, Dr Roberts said: “It remains a privilege to serve Bolton College, an institution to which I and many other former students owe so much.

“Having that service recognised by the Chartered Institution for Further Education is an incredible and humbling honour.”

The fellowship is the latest honour to be bestowed upon Dr Roberts by the further and higher educational communities.

In 2011 he received a Prince Philip Medal highly commended certificate in acknowledgement of his promotion of City & Guilds training and outstanding contribution, commitment and dedication to the telecommunications industry.

The University of Salford also awarded him an honorary degree in recognition of his contribution to the world of telecommunications, science and innovation. The award saw him become a Doctor of Science (DSc) in 2019.

Prior to this in 2018 the University of Bolton awarded Roberts with an Honorary Doctorate in Education (EdD) for his outstanding contribution to education.

Aside from his voluntary service to the education sector, Dr. Roberts is also active in the local business community. He is chair of Bury Business Leaders Group and local president of Bury Chamber of Commerce.

As managing director of Avoira he oversees a business with offices in Bury, Bristol, Leeds, London, Warrington and the Lake District.

The company’s 175 employees deliver a range of best-in-class solutions. These embrace audio visual and video conferencing technologies, customer experience and speech analytics, managed IT services and cyber security, unified communications, contact centre and connectivity solutions and radio and critical communication services.