A RETAIL skills project at South Nottingham College was 'Highly Commended' in the 2008 Association of Colleges Beacon Awards.

Called Checkout Learning, the project was nominated in the Lifelong Learning category.

The awards, which recognise outstanding teaching and learning in further education colleges, were announced at a ceremony hosted by comedian and musician Tony Hawks, at the association's annual conference in Birmingham.

Last year, South Nottingham College won a Beacon Award in the Innovation in Curriculum Leadership Development category for its Balls to Poverty football tours to South Africa.