Welcome to the NKC Working with Employers Newsletter
This newsletter is brought to you by the Employer Engagement team at the College who reach out into the local communities and speak with employers and business owners. We aim to provide support, guidance and information regarding education and your industry whilst gaining insight into local employers and businesses. In the monthly newsletter we will be sharing how we are working with local employers and businesses, informing about government related strategies in relation to education, sharing stories about students and employers working together and overall insight into the North Kent College group and Hadlow College.
June was an exciting month for the College with the students wrapping up their qualifications and the chance to once again open the doors at Hadlow College for the annual Country Fair. We were fortunate enough that the heavens did not open and we were able to share the wonderful facilities with visitors for the day. Whether potential students or those from the local community, the fair showcased the College's wonderful offering. This was the first fair for the Employer Engagement Team since the College's merged and it was fantastic to support and take part.
June Headlines
In this months edition we celebrate the successes of our apprentices and their access to exciting opportunities, learning about industry placements, catching up with alumni and sharing information on a new apprenticeship to North Kent College.
- Employer Spotlight - Royal St.George's Golf Club
- KFE Kent & Medway apprentice graduation
- Industry Placements - What, Why & Who?
- Alumni Apprentice Vince talks career progression and apprenticeships
- NEWSFLASH! Lean Manufacturing Operative Apprenticeship comes to NKC
Employer Spotlight - Royal St. George’s Golf Club
Since 2011 Royal St. George’s Golf Club, Sandwich, have been preparing to host it's next Open Championship. Hadlow College are really proud to have played such a pivotal role in training apprentices throughout this decade achieving 100% pass rate on over 13 apprenticeships for staff at both Level 2 and level 3. However, more recently on the new End Point Assessment standard 3 out of 3 have achieved the highest grade possible: Distinction!
Anthony Stockwell, Greenkeeping and Sports Turf Course tutor said,
Working with organisations such as Royal St. Georges golf club who have invested in a long term apprenticeship program is a pleasure. They understand the benefits to working with apprentices from introducing fresh new talent to the business to apprentices providing secure succession planning practices. I wish the apprentices and all the team at Royal St. George's all the best with the up coming 149th Open Championship.
Harry Miller is their latest apprentice to achieve distinction and it’s great to know he is qualified before the Open Championship which was a target he set himself at the start of the qualification.
Harry was delighted to pass the apprenticeship and commented,
“Not only will this help with the Open Championship but it will also support my future. As part of the Open Championship I will be mowing fairways, and it has given me so much more confidence knowing I am fully qualified. By completing my assessment prior to the Open it has also given me more responsibility into the build-up for the event.
The Royal St. George’s Golf Club, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9PB
www.royalstgeorges.com
KFE Kent & Medway Apprentice Graduation
KFE are already planning the third Kent and Medway Apprentice Graduation Event which will take place on Friday 8th October! They would love to celebrate the success of even more apprentices as there are over 9,000 apprentices in learning every year in the county.
If you are, or know an apprentice who will complete and achieve their apprenticeship between 1st September 2020 and 31st August 2021, now is the time for them to become one of our graduates via our easy two-step nomination and registration process.
Industry Placements - What, Why and Who?
What?
Industry Placements is a scheme available to our Level 3 and Level 2 students on eligible full time programmes at the College. The aim of an Industry Placement is to provide valuable experience above and beyond the traditional two week work experience, in an industry to which the student is studying a qualification towards.
We aim for the student to complete at least 315 hours around their College days either working 1 - 2 days around their timetable throughout the year or on block if able.
Placements can be paid or unpaid and offer a great opportunity for the student to boost their CV and/or UCAS application. The College supports the students by completing pre employment training, provided by The Learning Shop at Bluewater and by offering reimbursements for travel expenses.
Why?
The introduction of Industry Placements is in response to new qualifications, T levels where an Industry Placement is a compulsory part of the qualification. The focus of these qualifications on being able to put their knowledge into practice. These qualifications and the Industry Placement scheme were designed to meet the expectations of employers in having not only qualified but skilled and competent employees.
One of the College's aims is to ensure our students are successful when they progress into the working world. By offering opportunities such as an Industry Placement we are preparing them for when they enter the workforce by giving them the chance to learn and work in their chosen Industry. During this time they are gaining valuable skills for their potential future employers.
Who?
Our students who are eligible to complete an Industry Placement come for a wide ranging curriculum. From construction, creative media, Legal secretarial, sport and so much more.
Industry Placements are available to all students inclusive of SEND students.
Therefore we are always looking to connect with organisations, employers and businesses who would be interested in the Industry Placement Scheme and offering an opportunity to our students.
We are now looking to discuss placements for the next academic year starting in September. If you would like further information on the scheme, how it works and the process we follow, as well as the support we provide employers then please feel free to get in contact.
business@northkent.ac.uk
01322 629758
Alumni Apprentice Vince talks career progression and apprenticeships
For our apprenticeship teams across our Colleges, their main goal is to ensure our apprentices are successful and continue to progress in their careers; this was the case with Anthony Stockwell, Greenkeeping and Sports Turf Course tutor at Hadlow College and his apprentice Vince DeMarzo. Vince completed his level 2 and level 3 Sports Turf Management. First Aid, Pa1 Pa2 Pa6 Chemical application certification with Hadlow College.
Tell us about your career path since you completed your apprenticeship.
I began my career at Barnehurst GC and completed my apprenticeship studying Level 2 whilst there. I moved to Wildernesse GC and during my time there completed my spraying certificates and first aid with the assistance of Hadlow. After volunteering at my first tournament I decided to expand my career to a higher level and did so by joining The Wisley. During my 3.5 years at this highly exclusive club, I completed my level 3 which helped me move up from assistant to senior, and then on to 2nd Ass. Superintendent. I also enjoyed a 6-month seasonal role in Australia at The Lakes learning all about warm season grass. I have recently undertaken a new role as Deputy Head at The Belfry. I never dreamed of being in such a role 5 years ago as an apprentice, and I’m proud to have worked up right through the spectrum. The learning and qualifications provided by Hadlow College along with my own ambition and determination have paid off. Hadlow College also provided the opportunity for me to become a matchday groundsman at The Den, home to Millwall FC which as a lifelong fan was a dream come true, both head and deputy groundsman there are former Hadlow College students.
During your time at Hadlow, what was the most important thing that you learnt?
Being a Greenkeeper may not be the most glamorous job but is very high in satisfaction. It combines both art and science to produce the high-quality standards that are expected in our field and when achieved are extremely rewarding.
Anthony Stockwell, Greenkeeping and Sports Turf Course tutor at Hadlow College said,
Vince was an outstanding student and he keeps going from strength to strength. He’s a very driven and self-motivated individual. It has been great to see him grow and develop his confidence over the duration of his course. The condition of the golf course at the Belfry for the recent British Masters was superb and the very best golf courses require the very best alumni, including Vince.
NEWS FLASH!
Lean Manufacturing Operative Apprenticeship comes to NKC
North Kent College are pleased to introduce the Lean Manufacturing Operative apprenticeship to their apprenticeship offering. Running over a 12 - 18 month programme the apprenticeship suits a wide variety of job titles from manufacturing and engineering.
Based at our Gravesend campus with a mix of block and day release, the apprentice standard expects the apprentice to carry out their work safely and meet the exacting quality standards demanded in a fast paced and efficient processing environment and develop into a multi-skilled operator through process ownership.
A lean manufacturing operative apprentice can be required to carry out manufacturing activities on multiple products with different specifications consecutively and within high volume environments e.g. in food and drink processing, modular construction, automotive manufacturing. For those in a food and drink process operation, an additional Food Hygiene Certificate can be added (at an additional cost) to this training programme.
Contact Us
If you are interested in working with the college please get in contact. We can assist with any enquiry from commercial courses, apprenticeships, placements and much more.
Email: Business@northkent.ac.uk or call: 01322 629758
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