Forging Unbreakable Links Between Education and Businesses

Written by Wesley Horan on 16th May 2019

The Swale Business Awards are absolutely delighted to welcome Sheppey College on board as a sponsor for the 2019 Awards.

The College is a thriving hub for education in Swale, providing courses for school leavers and adults returning to education. A part of the prominent EKC Group, Sheppey College offers students a supportive and inclusive environment as it acts as the gateway to further study, apprenticeships and employment.

Principal Alan Salter sees the partnership between Sheppey College and the Swale Business Award as a logical extension of the work that he and his team do to link with businesses throughout Swale. “We currently have over 400 students at the college and a huge part of our curriculum is focused on employability,” Alan explained. “Of course, getting your education is vitally important, but we also spend time helping students to develop their CVs, including making links with local employers so they can gain work experience, which is invaluable in today’s market where often thirty or forty people will apply for one job. It is not uncommon for one of our students to find a job with an employer after they’ve undertaken work experience with them.”

With this commitment to enrichment and all-round development, it is no surprise that places at Sheppey College are highly sought-after, as young people look for the best possible start to their careers. “There is a real synergy between Sheppey College and businesses in Swale,” Alan continued. “With many local businesses employing from the talent pool that we are cultivating, I think it is really importantly that we are getting people into the workforce who are ready for what the day-to-day of a job entails. I always say to students, ‘The more you learn today, the more you will grow tomorrow.’ We are helping the next generation to prepare for their future careers and employment.”

If you would like to find out more about courses at Sheppey College you can do so here. If you are a local business owner who is keen to offer work experience for students, please get in touch with the college here.