A FORMER college student from East Lancashire will join the likes of boxer Amir Khan and Sainsbury’s boss Justin King in winning a top educational award.

Sir Kevin Smith is one of eight winners of the Association of Colleges’ gold award, handed out to people who have excelled in their chosen field.

The Nelson-born business leader retired last December as chief executive of GKN Aerospace, and credits his start at Burnley College for setting him on the road to success.

By his own admission, he did not take his chances at school and ended up with a job as a manual worker in East Lancashire mills.

But he enrolled on a business studies course at Burnley College, earning its economic history prize and never looked back.

He later secured a first-class honours degree in the same discipline at the University of Central Lancashire, before a career which also included several top posts at British Aerospace.

Sir Kevin, who was knighted in 2007, said: “Studying at Burnley College opened up doors which would otherwise have been closed to me.

“I am really grateful to the staff for what I learnt during my time there. I am looking forward to thanking the college at the Gold Award presentation ceremony in June.”

He will be accompanied by coll-ege business management student Jack Heywood, from Clitheroe, at the London gathering.

Jack hopes to study agriculture at Harper Adams University, in Newport, and is looking to gain some inspiration along the way.

College principal Hugh Bramwell said: “The awards recognise people who have attended college and gone on to achieve excellence in their chosen field.

“Sir Kevin Smith is the perfect example of this.

“He left school with limited qualifications but, through hard work and determination, he has become a very influential figure in the aerospace industry.

“We are delighted that Sir Kevin has won this award and are looking forward to meeting up with him once again at the presentation ceremony, and introducing him to one of our current students who is aiming to follow in his footsteps.”

Khan, King and Transport Secretary Justine Greening will also be presented with their awards. Previous recipients include Stephen Fry, Gok Wan and Sean Bean.