An education leader known for “standing up for the most vulnerable” has been recognised in the King’s 2026 New Year Honours – an award that shines a national spotlight on Suffolk and the life-changing impact of education across the county.
Dr Nikos Savvas DL, Chief Executive of Eastern Education Group, has been awarded an OBE for services to education, recognising more than 25 years of inclusive leadership that has helped place Suffolk at the forefront of educational innovation in the UK.
“This honour belongs to the whole of Eastern Education Group and to Suffolk,” said Dr Savvas. “What we have achieved here shows that world-class education doesn’t only happen in big cities. Suffolk is leading the way, and this award is recognition of the people, partnerships and communities that make that possible. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together.”
Dr Savvas joined West Suffolk College in 2013 as Principal, at a time when the Further Education sector was entering one of the most challenging periods in its history. Under his leadership, the college not only weathered national funding cuts and sector-wide uncertainty, but emerged stronger; becoming a beacon of excellence and ambition.
Today, Dr Savvas oversees an organisation that supports learners at every stage of life, with the Group comprising three Ofsted Outstanding sixth form colleges, a university centre, two primary schools, learning centres across Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, and a growing number of specialist SEND schools. Across its campuses, EEG is changing lives in ways both large and deeply personal.
Some learners go on to national recognition or world-leading universities. Others achieve milestones that once felt out of reach; passing a GCSE in their fifties, mastering digital skills in their seventies, or finding the confidence to step back into a classroom after believing education was no longer an option for them. For many, education becomes a turning point: helping young people move away from crime and violence, supporting families through acute personal challenges, creating pathways into employment, or simply ensuring children have access to safe spaces, proper facilities, and a hot meal each day.
Dr Savvas said: “This honour reflects thousands of individual journeys – big and small – that together show what Suffolk can achieve. Education changes lives, and the work happening here is proof that communities like ours are shaping the future of the nation.”
Over the past year, the Group marked its centenary – 100 years since its beginnings as a small adult learning centre in Bury St Edmunds – celebrating a century of education that has evolved alongside the community it serves.
More recently, Eastern Education Group and West Suffolk College were named the Construction Technical Excellence College (CTEC) for the East of England – one of just ten colleges nationally selected as part of a £100 million government-backed initiative to shape the future of construction skills in the UK.
Looking ahead to 2026, investment across Suffolk and the wider region will continue. Plans include the opening of the Gene Haas Centre for Advanced Manufacturing in Bury St Edmunds – the first and only centre of its kind in the region – alongside a new multi-million-pound education and community hub in Thetford, bringing high-quality training and facilities into the heart of the town.
Further developments include new health and science education centres in Soham and Ely, and a micro-construction and green technology facility in St Neots, ensuring learners can access skills aligned with the industries shaping the future.
Eastern Education Group has embedded sustainability and climate education across its provision, ensuring learners understand their role in shaping a more sustainable future. Its approach is underpinned by award-winning sustainability initiatives and a commitment to turning learning into action, including regular free ‘Go Green’ events that are open to the public and bring together learners, local businesses and the wider community to explore practical responses to environmental challenges.
Alongside this, Eastern Education Group continues to invest in pioneering innovation that is reshaping how education is delivered, making learning more inclusive and accessible. A flagship example is its £2 million state-of-the-art Extended Reality (XR) Lab, which has been crowned as the UK’s “Most Inspiring Place to Learn” and selected to represent the UK on the global stage at the Mobile World Conference in Barcelona.
Equity, diversity and inclusion also sit at the heart of the Group’s ethos. Eastern Education Group consistently celebrates and embraces Black History, hosting several events throughout the year, and continues to place EDI at the forefront of everything it does. This commitment has recently been recognised with the Investors in Diversity Silver accreditation from the National Centre for Diversity, following a rigorous process of surveys, interviews and cultural audits. The Group has also been named in the Top 100 Inclusive UK Employers Index 2025, reflecting the inclusive culture that underpins so much of its work.
Elton D’Souza is the Chair of Governors for Eastern Education Group. Mr D’Souza said:
“Nikos’ inspirational leadership has been incredibly transformative. He has driven the sector forward and helped revolutionise West Suffolk College and Eastern Education Group. This region is no longer seen as a backwater for education, but a powerhouse that leads the way for the UK, training thousands of people of all ages who then go on and make a hugely positive impact to our economy and productivity.
“It’s an organisation that cares and supports our community, and it is a community that is enhanced by the work that Nikos and his incredible team do, consistently driving social mobility and making society better through education.
“He is not afraid to tackle the big problems and stand up for the most vulnerable and this award is great recognition for everything that he has done, and everything that he will continue to do.”
Dr Savvas, who became a Deputy Lieutenant for Suffolk in 2024, will attend Buckingham Palace in 2026 to formally receive his OBE.
