If you’ve walked through the halls of a College in Kent and Medway recently, you’ve probably heard people talking about KFE4Skills. It’s one of the biggest events in the Kent Further Education calendar but it’s much more than a competition. It celebrates talent, showcases skills, and helps students take confident steps toward their future careers.
KFE4Skills is an annual competition which brings together students from East Kent Colleges Group, MidKent College and North Kent College to put their skills to the test. Hundreds of students compete across a wide range of industries, including Construction, Creative and Design, Engineering, Catering and Hospitality, Hair and Beauty, Health and Social care and many more.
Students don’t complete classroom style tasks. Instead, they take on challenges designed to industry standards, solving problems, managing time pressures and demonstrating their technical skills, just like they would in the workplace. Whether they construct complex brickwork, design creative portfolios or deliver professional services, students prove they can perform under real conditions.
KFE4Skills builds confidence. It pushes students to step outside their comfort zones and test their abilities in front of peers, tutors and industry professionals.
Every participant earns a certificate, and top performers receive gold, silver and bronze medals. More importantly, students gain experiences they can take straight to job interviews. Employers see KFE4Skills as a strong indicator of resilience, professionalism and career readiness.
The competition also connects students directly with industry experts as employers and sector specialists serve as judges, giving learners valuable feedback and real networking opportunities. These connections can lead to work placements, apprenticeships and even job offers, turning competition success into real career opportunities.
KFE4Skills also opens doors beyond Kent. As an event officially endorsed by WorldSkillsUK, it acts as a launchpad for other national and international competitions. Top performers can move on to represent their Colleges and compete against the best young talent in the country and the world, gaining broader recognition for their skills.
Level 3 Hairdressing student Sonya took part in the competition and said, “I’ve learnt a lot of hair skills, and it’s boosted my confidence. Just being brave enough to take part has been great.
“My confidence levels in hairdressing have really improved because the pressure that these competitions put you under is quite intense and you must get on and complete your look. It’s a valuable skill that I’m learning.”
At its core, KFE4Skills celebrates the strength of further education in Kent. It highlights the quality of teaching, the ambition of students and the readiness of the next generation of skilled professionals. Whether students win medals or simply gain confidence and experience, they leave KFE4Skills better prepared for the world of work.
Explore our courses and see how you could take part in competitions like KFE4Skills: Study with us – Ashford College
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