Our recent ‘Together We Succeed’ Employer Conference took place on Wednesday 4 February 2026, bringing together local computing, construction and engineering employers and College staff together.
The conference was designed to build long term relationships with businesses who can support our learners with work placements and unique experiences, and to give employers a voice in shaping the College’s curriculum to boost local skills.
The afternoon began with networking, followed by a welcome talk from the College’s Head of Engineering, Motor Vehicle and Computing, Martin Kerry.
Assistant Principal, Dane Simonds, kicked off the main series of talks, speaking about the value of employer involvement in preparing students for future careers.
Employer Spotlights by Ovendens, Hannent Chartered Surveyors, Warnborough College and Earlybirds, each offered valuable perspectives on current industry expectations and future trends.
One employer who particularly benefitted from the event was Invvu Construction, who shared how the discussions around curriculum design has helped them better understand the skills students are developing. They also highlighted the value of meeting our Lecturers face to face and are now continuing to work with T Level students, supporting their future recruitment needs.
Fiona Dryburgh, Marketing, Business and Development Manager for Invvu Construction said: “It’s been great to get an insight into how other employers find working with T Level students. We’ve shared quite a few tips and discussed how we integrate students working with our teams.
“T Level students are the way forward and the students we have had in the past have been successful, so it’s nice to work closely with the College at events like this and strengthen our relationships.”
An interactive session titled ‘ILOs Myth Busters’ explored the role of Industry Liaison Officers and addressed how they support both employers and learners.
Chloe O’Brien, Industry Liaison Officer for Construction, said about the conference: “It’s great to see so many of our key partnerships in attendance. Today has been a strong reminder of the real impact of what we do, and how important placement opportunities are for our learners.”
The event concluded with the employers working together during an interactive activity session, where they inputted into our curriculum, what’s working well, and what they’d like to see more of going forward.
It was also a chance for our curriculum staff to share the value of working with employers and how these benefit students in so many ways.
We’re pleased that the conference created a positive and productive space for employers who are passionate about supporting the next generation of talent.
Events like this play an important role in keeping education and industry connected, helping ensure learners leave College with the confidence, experience, and skills that today’s workplaces are looking for.
If you’re an employer interested in getting involved or working with the Group to support future talent, you can find out more here: https://www.ekcgroup.ac.uk/collaborate-with-us/
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