Dover Technical College - Industry Liaison Team
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Industry Liaison Team

Dover Technical College has a team of Industry Liaison Officers who support our students to gain relevant work experience.

At Dover Technical College, our students take part in relevant and meaningful work experiences as part of their study programme with us.

Work experience allows our students to boost their CVs, put new skills into practice, and network with professionals in the industry they want to work in.

Our Industry Liaison Officers along with our employer partners offer our students the opportunity to participate in 'Industry Guest Speakers' and ‘Employer Hotseat’ talks, work experience, and industry visits.

To ensure our students get the most out of their work experience, each pathway has its own Industry Liaison Officer. Each Industry Liaison Officer will work with their students on a one-to-one and small-group basis to identify their employability skills and support them in securing work placements.

Sara Fernandez 

Industry Liaison Officer, Service Industries: IT, Digital Learn, Business and Access to HE pathways.

Sara started with the EKC Group working for Digital Learn. In 2022 she moved roles and joined the ILO team at Dover Technical College.

Industry Liaison Officer, Technical Services: Automotive, Electrical, Engineering, and Plumbing pathways.

Theo possesses a developed and astute understanding of the education environment, having worked across the sector in primary, secondary, and special schools, the independent sector, and further education since 2019. Committed to the sector, Theo is highly experienced in working with and on behalf of students, both operationally and strategically. 

With a deep passion for communities, the power of place and the importance of a quality student experience delivered through first-class education, Theo is a dedicated and passionate advocate for high-quality and effective work placements for vocational programmes. 

Industry Liaison Officer, Service Industries Service Industries: Art & Design, Early Years, Hairdressing and Travel & Tourism pathways.

With a background in events, Tanya started with Dover Technical College as a Travel and Tourism lecturer, and in 2022 she undertook the role of ILO for services industries pathways.  

If you want to speak to your Industry Liaison Officer about work experience you can email them or contact them via MS Teams.

Please contact the Industry Liaison Officer for your pathway:

  • Sara.Fernandez@eastkent.ac.uk - Industry Liaison Officer, Service Industries: IT, Digital Learn, Business, and Access. 
  • Theo.Lawless-Hughes@ekcgroup.ac.uk - Industry Liaison Officer, Technical Services: Automotive, Electrical, Engineering and Plumbing.
  • Tanya.Conyers-Silverthorn@eastkent.ac.uk - Industry Liaison Officer, Service Industries: Art & Design, Early Years, Hairdressing, and Travel & Tourism.

At Dover Technical College we are always keen to work with local employers and organisations. Our dedicated Industry Liaison Officers have successfully placed students in work experience placements with companies in and around the Dover District. If you are interested in finding out more, our ILOs can be contacted via email in the first instance:

  • Sara.Fernandez@eastkent.ac.uk
  • Theo.Lawless-Hughes@ekcgroup.ac.uk
  • Tanya.Conyers-Silverthorn@eastkent.ac.uk

In addition to organising work experience, we are also keen to hear from any employers who: 

  • Would like to join in with our annual Career Fair
  • Would be willing to be a guest speaker or take part in an Employer Hotseat workshop
  • Would be happy to join in as an interviewer for our mock interviews 
  • Are looking to share details of full or part-time vacancies with our students

If you are interested in any of the above, please email us for more information.