East Kent Colleges Group supports Skills for work, life and place report 

East Kent Colleges Group is proud to celebrate the release of the APPG on Further Education and Lifelong Learning’s Skills for work, life and place report. 

As one of the biggest providers of adult education in Kent, EKC Group – which educates more than 15,000 people a year across six Colleges, and nine training centres – understands the impact that education can bring to those returning later in life, as well as help fill the skills gaps created by our rapidly changing world. 

Through its training provider, EKC Training, the Group offers a range of courses across areas such as Rail Engineering, the trades, English, Maths, IT, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), as well as a variety of ‘Get Into’ courses, and targeted programmes based on industry need. 

These courses give adults the chance to retrain, upskill, or get back into the world of work, and for some, give them a renewed sense of purpose.  

Over the past three decades, adult education has been in a challenging funding environment, with limited support from policymakers, yet it has still transformed the lives of many. 

Against the background of the ‘Skills for work, life and place’ report, EKC Group is joining calls from across the sector for the government to invest more in adult education, to develop a consistent strategy, and to provide more flexibility in how it is delivered.  

The Group has seen itself how adult learning, and local partnerships can impact the lives of many. 

In Thanet, the Group’s training provider, EKC Training, has been delivering a cross-cutting programme in collaboration with UKHospitality and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to support out-of-work adults to gain the confidence, knowledge, and skills that they need to help fill the hundreds of thousands of vacancies across the hospitality sector. 

“This programme transforms people over the course of 20 days,” says Sandra Kelly, who is the Skills Director for UKHospitality. 

“They are building knowledge, they are work ready, they are transitioning into employment, and we can see them gain hope and ambition. 

“It helps individuals to unlock their own potential.” 

Rob is a graduate of the programme, and following the course has not only gained successful employment with Thorley Taverns but has taken a step up into a business development role. 

He said: “The Passport is a brilliant foundation. It gives you all the basics, and then the real-world experience to really level up too.” 

For some, adult learning is not just about getting into work, but can even be about regaining their confidence, and building aspirations. 

On the Isle of Sheppey, EKC Training’s award-winning Eastchurch Centre offers a chance for prisoners at HMP Standford Hill to learn while they prepare to re-enter the world of work. 

The centre gives learners a second chance, helping them build practical work-related skills, and build knowledge not just for employment, but for rebuilding a future beyond prison. 

Commenting on an AoC Beacon Award that the provision won, David Newton, Head of Education, Skills and Work, at HMP Standford Hill said: “HMP Standford Hill and East Kent Colleges Group have developed a thriving symbiotic partnership over the past few years where Standford Hill’s men benefit from the Outstanding training provided by the EKC Training tutors. 

“It is a hugely successful partnership which has been recognised by both Ofsted, and EKC Group, and it contributes to HMP Standford Hill having a remarkably low re-offending rate.” 

Adult education can also help people to rebuild confidence, in ways they never thought possible.  

Teresa studied on EKC Training’s Thrive programme and described how it had been life-changing for her. 

“I decided this course might be a good way for me to focus on getting out of the house because, for me, that was a big issue,” she said. 

“I had a lot of anxiety, so having the course just as a focus to get up and do something that day has been quite beneficial for me. 

Teresa, 46, added that the programme helped her and her fellow students in a number of ways. 

She said: “Some of us have really benefited from it, and we’ve had lots of experience for how to reword our CVs, how to cope in interviews, so for some people, they’re further ahead on their journey of getting a job, and for others of us, it’s been about gaining that confidence to go out and be with a different group of people. 

“I’m just really grateful for the opportunity for myself.” 

With such a range of impacts on the local economy, and on the health and wellbeing of the local community, adult education has something to offer for everyone. Whether it’s creating connections, building skills, or helping people discover something new, the opportunities are immense. 

Commenting, the CEO of EKC Group, Lucy McLeod, said: “We’ve seen first-hand how adult learning pays in the communities that we serve in Kent. 

“I’m proud that as a Group, we’ve been able to feed into this report alongside colleagues from across the sector and provide evidence of the impacts that we’ve seen on both individuals and businesses in East Kent. 

“Adult learning isn’t just about learning, it’s about providing opportunity to everyone, whether they’re starting out in a new industry, looking to get back into work, or just wanting to upskill. 

“In a rapidly changing world, we must be able to provide opportunities to train people into the skills gaps that will, and are already being created. 

“We know that education is vital for young people, so why shouldn’t it be crucial for adults too?” 

Following the publication of the report, which East Kent Colleges Group fed into, the Group now joins calls on the government to act to ensure that every adult has a chance to learn and thrive through adult education. 

Learn more about how Adult Learning Pays here.