MidKent College principal Stephen Grix

by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Brickie-to-college principal Stephen Grix is in line for a national bosses' accolade.

The MidKent College principal and chief executive, who steps down this summer, has been shortlisted in the large company category of the Institute of Directors awards.

Mr Grix first joined MidKent College as a 15-year-old bricklaying student having left school with no qualifications. He returned as principal/chief executive in 2005 and has since spearheaded a major transformation.

Mr Grix (pictured right) said: "I am extremely proud to have been nominated for this award, which is recognition for all the hard work put in by MidKent College staff every day. We have invested a lot of money in our facilities and workforce despite tough economic times, ensuring we continue to grow and improve for the benefit of our students and local employers."

MidKent College was named Large Business of the Year in the 2012 Kent Excellence in Business Awards (KEiBA). It moved from Horsted, Chatham, to an £86m campus in Gillingham in 2009 and is investing £23m in a facelift of the Maidstone campus.

Mr Grix’s will continue as chief executive on a part-time basis until 2015.