Middlesbrough College is celebrating after winning the Digital Transformation Award at the 2026 Tees Tech Awards, in recognition of its innovative use of artificial intelligence to enhance teaching, learning and staff wellbeing.
The award, presented at the prestigious Tees Tech Awards (a Tees Business event), celebrates organisations that are using digital innovation to deliver meaningful change and measurable impact.
Middlesbrough College was recognised for Inspire AI, its bespoke AI platform developed to reduce administrative workload for teaching staff and give them more time to focus on supporting learners.
Since its launch, Inspire AI has become embedded across the College, with around 175 teachers using the platform each month and generating approximately 1,000 queries.
Regular users report saving an average of 3.5 hours per week (the equivalent of almost half a working day), allowing more time for lesson planning, learner support and curriculum development.
Developed specifically around Middlesbrough College’s teaching frameworks and priorities, Inspire AI helps staff create schemes of learning, lesson plans, teaching resources and assessment materials more efficiently.
Comprehensive staff training and ongoing support have played a key role in the successful adoption of the platform across curriculum areas.
James Wells, Director of Digital Innovation and Support at Middlesbrough College, said: “We’re incredibly proud to have won the Digital Transformation Award. Inspire AI was developed with a clear purpose – to reduce workload pressures for our teaching staff so they can spend more time focusing on what matters most: supporting learners.
“This recognition reflects the hard work and collaboration of colleagues across the College who have embraced innovation and helped shape a solution that is delivering real benefits every day.
“As a college, we’re committed to using technology in a purposeful and responsible way, and this award reinforces our position as a leader in digital innovation within education.”
The impact of Inspire AI extends beyond operational efficiencies. By reducing administrative burden, the platform is helping to improve staff wellbeing, support retention and maintain high-quality teaching. Learners benefit from more engaging lessons, faster feedback and greater consistency in curriculum delivery.
The College is already planning the next phase of development, with enhanced analytics, new functionality and wider applications across both curriculum and business support functions.
Future developments will explore opportunities to support areas including SEND provision, learner guidance and digital skills development, while maintaining robust governance around the ethical use of AI.
Winning the Digital Transformation Award further strengthens Middlesbrough College’s reputation as a leader in digital innovation and reflects its ongoing commitment to using technology to improve outcomes for both staff and learners.
