T Level students organise a Business Networking Breakfast

On Wednesday 30 October, EKC Canterbury College hosted a highly successful Business Networking Breakfast at Streetside Café and Bistro, aimed at bringing together local employers for a morning of networking.

Organised by the College’s Business, Finance, and Travel and Tourism departments, the event gave over 35 employers a chance to connect, engage with students, and explore the benefits of the all-important work placements.

The event was a hands-on project for students, managed with the guidance of Industry Liaison Officer, Julia McCormack. Learners planned and organised the breakfast event as part of their work placement project, using their key skills in event organisation, logistics, and professional communication. The event not only highlighted the students’ capabilities but also showed the advantages of real-world learning, as they were able to speak to business owners face-to-face.

Grace, a T Level Business Management and Administration student currently placed with Oxfam in Canterbury, expressed her gratitude to her employer, saying: “I have learnt so many problem-solving and teamwork skills at the charity shop. I’ve developed professional standards and transferable skills, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunities I’m getting. It’s great to see so many employers here today supporting us.”

Local employers from diverse sectors, including printing, tourism, and technology, joined the event. In addition to networking, attendees were able to directly interact with students, as they shared a first-hand perspective on the value of placement opportunities that are important to their T Level courses.

Sarah Stewart, Head of Business, Accounting and Travel and Tourism at EKC Canterbury College said: “Our students, with guidance from our team, planned and hosted the whole event. We’ve had a fantastic turnout of employers who have all been able to find out more about the support we can offer them, and were able to hear from our students and learn about how valuable the experience is. We organised this event because so many of our local employers aren’t aware of the T Level qualification and the potential partnerships with the College that could boost their business. I hope that the businesses have walked away today with more knowledge around how they can get involved and have been able to see, first-hand, the types of people they could be recruiting in the future.”

Georgia, T Level Accounting student, who is completing her placement at Kent Cricket, spoke at the event and said: “I’m assisting the Physio department with their invoicing and supplier payments and learning to conduct an audit. This experience is invaluable for my future career in finance, and I’ve developed critical skills in time management, scheduling, and maintaining focus on the job.”

EKC Canterbury College is committed to equipping students with real-world experience while developing strong connections with the diverse communities we serve.

We hope that all of the businesses who attended today enjoyed the opportunity to engage with students and learn more about the mutual benefit of work placements for both learners and local industry.