HSDC recently welcomed industry partners from across the region to South Downs Campus for a dedicated Partner Board Breakfast and workshop event focused on shaping the future of skills development and strengthening collaboration between education and industry.
Guests began the morning with a cooked breakfast at 74 South, the College’s on-campus training restaurant, providing a perfect opportunity for networking and informal discussions before the main programme commenced.
Following breakfast, the guests listened intently to a passionate talk by Jamie Mackay from Hampshire County Council. Jamie told the stories of three different young people whose lives had been changed thanks to the development of their skills, highlighting the true power of taking a chance on those who may lack the opportunity to succeed in their professional lives. Jamie said:
“Over one million young people in the UK are NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training). These aren’t numbers on a spreadsheet, they are individual stories of talent. Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not.”
He was followed by Thomas Menage, recently elected as President of HSDC’s Student Union, who reflected on how the College itself had helped him get where he wanted to be:
“HSDC prepared me for my life thanks to the state-of-the-art facilities and excellent teaching staff across the College. It is vital that institutions continue to take chances on young people, and to not look at what they lack in experience, but at what they have in potential.”
The skills-based workshop was a great way to identify industry priorities.
The event then moved into a workshop discussion centred on identifying skills gaps across different industries, and exploring how further education providers and employers can work together to address them. Discussions highlighted the importance of developing industry-relevant skills, creating meaningful employer partnerships and preparing students for the changing demands of the workplace.
Speaking after the event, Suki Dhesi, Deputy Principal for Curriculum and Quality, said:
“Our partnership work with employers continues to benefit our students immensely. Young people are the future talent of the region, and we know from employers that communication, collaboration, and customer service are crucial core skills that they require from applicants. The co-investment we engineer through this event will ensure that HSDC is well-positioned to address the skills gap for our region’s employers.”
This event has reaffirmed HSDC’s commitment to working alongside industry leaders and local employers to develop a highly skilled workforce, equipping students with the knowledge, experience and confidence needed to succeed in their chosen careers.