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Chris Derbyshire, Partnerships Manager in the Widening Participation team.

Chris Derbyshire, Partnerships Manager in the Widening Participation team, has been shortlisted for the prestigious NEON (National Education Opportunities Network) Contribution to Widening Access Award.

The NEON Awards celebrate excellence in widening access to higher education (HE), recognising transformational work carried out by institutions and colleagues, as well as the achievements of students who have progressed to HE from underrepresented backgrounds. Being shortlisted for the Contribution to Widening Access Award requires clear evidence of work that is both innovative and outstanding.

Chris has been based in the Widening Participation team at Sussex since 2010, helping young people to make informed decisions about their education. His work spans many areas, including programme creation, partnership management, and projects and initiatives, such as the flagship GTRSB (Gypsies, Travellers, Roma, Showmen & Boaters) initiative – our key commitment to creating a welcoming environment at Sussex in which GTRSB students can thrive. In 2025, Chris won the University’s Inclusive Sussex Award for co-leading our application for a national pledge to support the inclusion of GTRSB students in higher education.  

Chris said, “I am humbled to be shortlisted. In reality, it is an acknowledgement for everyone that I’ve ever collaborated with. Widening Access is about providing greater equity for those less represented in, or least less likely to access, higher education. I am still very motivated to identify stakeholders, join the dots, and create new opportunities to inspire young people to recognise the scope of their own potential.”

The winner will be announced at a ceremony taking place at the Palace of Westminster on Wednesday 3 June.