The annual Careers and Progression Fair was back this year, bigger and better than ever! The three-day Careers and Progression event saw hundreds of students attend talks, explore options with their parents/carers support, and speak to potential employers and universities.
Wednesday 29 October marked the second day of the event, the Careers and Progression Fair took over the main section of the College called ‘The Street’, giving students from across East Kent Colleges Group, the chance to connect with employers, explore career opportunities, and gain valuable advice on their next steps.
With a range of organisations in attendance, visitors had the chance to learn more about various job roles, Apprenticeships, and higher education options. Employers and educational providers were on hand to offer guidance on routes into different industries, helping attendees understand their options and make informed decisions about their futures.
We spoke to Florence, Level 2 Health and Social Care student about why the fair was helpful for her. She told us: “I know I’d like to work in the Health Care sector after College. Today I spoke to someone from EKC Training about their Apprenticeship options which is not something I considered before.
“I really enjoyed the fair. I have been given some handouts to look through, and a nice new pen too!”
Another student, Marz, who is currently a Marlowe Academy of Performing Arts (MAPA) student, is looking into applying for drama school next year told us: “This fair has really helped me think about where I’d like to go in the future. There are so many options for performing arts students, and it was great to talk to the stallholder from Rose Bruford College. One of my lecturers went to this drama school, so I was interested in finding out more about the courses they offer.
“It’s also been great to find out about all the options available to us. The College really wants to help us find the course that’s the best fit for our career progression.”
Visitors engaged directly with professionals from a wide range of industries. Representatives from Border Force, Cardo, Holiday Extras, Kent Police, Kent Teach, Marlowe Theatre, Morgan Sindall Construction, NHS – Operating department practitioners, the Army, The Mighty Roar, and more, spoke about career pathways in their sectors.
A variety of universities attended the event, including local universities such as University of Kent and the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) and some further afield such as, University of Portsmouth and Suffolk University. This offers students the chance to explore their options far and wide, finding the university most suited to their personal and academical needs.
Other organisations such as EKC Training and SMD Training Services, were on hand to showcase specialist career routes and information about employability skills. Attendees had the chance to explore the range of Apprenticeships offered by EKC Training, and speak with Stuard Miller from SMD Training about applications, the use of AI and interview preparation.
Alongside networking with stallholders, visitors could also attend a series of engaging talks in the College’s Main Hall. These sessions ran over the three days of the careers event and covered essential topics such as employability skills, higher education pathways, and the benefits of Apprenticeships. These sessions provided attendees with essential knowledge on different career paths and how to navigate them successfully.
Another highlight of the event was inviting our parents/carers to join our students for the Parents’ Evening. This gave students and their influencers the opportunity to hear from EKC Canterbury College’s Careers Team about College pathways, Stuart Miller from SDM Training about Apprenticeships and employment options, and Ruth Westbury from University of Kent about the process of applying to university. These speakers provided students and their caregivers with the plethora of options available to them, ensuring they can make an informed decision that is right for them.
The event, organised by the EKC Canterbury College Careers Team and the Uni Connect Project Officer, had a fantastic turnout, with everyone making the most of networking opportunities and gaining a deeper understanding of their prospects.
Katie McCann, one of our Careers Advisors, commented: “We are thrilled with how today’s event went, with a fantastic turnout from students. We welcomed a wide range of employers, Apprenticeship providers, and universities, and it was wonderful to see students taking the initiative to speak with so many stallholders.
“We are really proud of how the students interacted and we received excellent feedback from the exhibitors commenting on how polite our students were, and how thoughtfully they asked questions about their future options.”
The Careers and Progression event was packed with advice, insights, and opportunities, ensuring that students left feeling inspired and ready for the next stage of their journey.
______________________________________________________________________________
We’d like to thank all the companies and universities who attended our Careers and Progression fair, including:
Employers, volunteering and Apprenticeship Providers:
- Border Force
- Cardo
- EKC Training
- Holiday Extras
- Kent Police
- Kent Teach
- Marlowe Theatre
- Morgan Sindall Construction
- NHS – Operating Department Practitioner Team
- SDM Training
- Supported Internships
- The Army
- The Mighty Roar
Universities
Learn more about our Careers and Progression advice.
More articles
Staff Spotlight – Meet your Student Experience Officer Ella
Everything you wanted to know about T Levels
