Collaboration Sparks New Ideas At MidKent College Employability Roundtables

MidKent College, a Patron of the Chamber, has recently welcomed fellow Chamber members to a series of sector-specific employability ‘roundtables’. These events bring together professionals, educators, and local business leaders to address the key topics that shape the future workforce. These forums focus on how best to prepare students for real-world employment and bridge the growing skills gap across various industries.

Contributors included representatives of every profession and trade that MidKent College reaches, including legal, construction, plumbing, social care, and education. The discussion explored the needs of employers, challenges in skills training, and innovative approaches to enhance employability among the next generation.

Chris Hare, Executive Director and Deputy CEO of MidKent College, highlighted the value of these discussions. “Sector-specific roundtable skills discussions have proved to be a really effective means to validate what courses we offer, and how we can enhance the content to increase employment prospects. We spend a lot of time, especially with full-time students, really grounding them into the understanding of what is required by employers when they go into the world of work.”

The wide-ranging dialogue sparked ideas for hands-on initiatives such as mock interviews, real-world talks with students, and strengthened partnerships between educators and local businesses.

Participants emphasised the importance of fostering collaboration between colleges and employers. Kathryn Paisley, Partner at Rix & Kay Solicitors, said: “Hats off to MidKent College and the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce for a fantastic initiative. I joined an engaged, interested, and interesting group of professionals with the aim to assist the College in supporting its wide range of students by giving them a sense of what employers look for in employees.”

For Arton Plumbing & Heating Ltd, the event underscored the rewards of giving back to the community and helping shape the next generation of professionals. Managing Director Daniel Arter said: “It costs nothing for us to do this, and it helps out others. Being able to share expertise and mentorship is extremely valuable for those trying to enter the field. It’s important for real businesses to get involved to support and encourage the next generation of tradespeople.” Daniel also highlighted the challenges around funding and the importance of local companies stepping up to bridge gaps left by limited resources.

The event provided a platform to discuss challenges in specific industries, such as social care. Penny Lawlor, External Social Care Workforce Manager at Kent County Council, said: “This was my second roundtable, and I found it a really valuable opportunity to highlight the challenges within our sector and discuss with partners how we might work together to start addressing these challenges. Attracting a younger workforce to ensure we have a pipeline of new workers is key to sustaining social care support for the people of Kent.”

Pia Rathje-Burton, Locality Manager, Kent & Medway Skills for Care, said: “We had a good discussion and it was interesting to hear from other colleagues on their views and perception of the sector’s needs. It’s really important that the social care sector and the college health and social care faculty work in partnership to ensure that students are provided with information and guidance about the career opportunities in adult social care.”

For some participants, the roundtable offered fresh perspectives and new avenues for collaboration. Damian Constable, Head of Communications at Ovenden Plant Hire, said: “I’ve attended quite a lot of these events, but this one stood out because of the engaging discussions in a smaller group. It’s always great to hear how much others invest in training and work experience. We’re keen to have further conversations with the College about supporting students.”

The MidKent College roundtables reaffirm the critical role that education and industry partnerships play in addressing skills gaps and preparing students for meaningful careers. They highlight opportunities such as training programs, introducing new technology, and finding creative ways to make industries more accessible and appealing to young people eventually paving the way for a stronger, more skilled workforce ready to meet the challenges of the future.

If you would like to take part in a MidKent College roundtable, please contact the Chamber who facilitate these events.