First-year Health and Social Care students from EKC Ashford College recently visited EKC Folkestone College for an inspiring industry event, discovering the many career opportunities available within the social care sector.
Held in new Ambition building, the ‘EKC Folkestone College meets Social Care’ event brought together students from Ashford and Folkestone with a range of industry professionals, giving them the chance to hear personal career journeys, explore different roles and gain valuable advice for their futures.
Organised in collaboration with Skills for Care and the Kent Integrated Care Alliance (KICA), the event demonstrated how connecting students directly with employers can help build confidence, raise aspirations and open their eyes to opportunities they may not have previously considered.
Bringing careers in social care to life
Throughout the event, students heard from professionals working in a variety of social care settings, including residential care, community support, social work and organisations supporting people with learning disabilities and mental health needs.
Rather than simply learning about these roles in the classroom, students were able to hear first-hand what working in the sector involves, the challenges and rewards of different jobs, and how professionals had progressed throughout their careers.
Following the talks, students split into smaller groups and moved between classrooms, spending 10 to 15 minutes speaking directly with different employers before moving on to the next group.
This interactive format gave everyone the opportunity to ask questions, discuss their own interests and ambitions, and receive advice from people already working in the industry.
For our Ashford students, it was a fantastic chance to build on their studies, develop their confidence in speaking with professionals and gain a clearer understanding of where their qualifications could take them.
Inspiring students to believe in their futures
One of the most powerful messages from the event was that there is no single route into a successful career in social care.
Several professionals shared their own experiences of overcoming challenges during their education, explaining how their determination and passion had helped them progress into rewarding roles.
For first-year Health and Social Care student Bella, hearing these personal stories was particularly inspiring. One guest speaker making an impact with many students because of how relatable she was, was Lauren, a manager from LDC Care Company, who shared her personal journey into social care.
“Lauren saying that she’s got this far, it’s made me think, well, if she can get that far, maybe I can as well. She’s inspired me,” Bella explained.
“I have more confidence about it now.”
Fellow student Mollie also found reassurance in hearing how professionals had overcome challenges before finding success in their careers.
“Hearing that she struggled as well but she’s still gone on to do all these wonderful, amazing things, it’s really inspired me. It made me feel like I can do that too.”
Brooke was equally inspired by Lauren. Hearing about her experiences helped Brooke feel more positive about her own ambitions, including the possibility of progressing to university.
Reflecting on the talk, Brooke said: “I can actually do it now, hearing it from someone else.”
For Lexi-May, the event highlighted how dedication and a genuine interest in helping others can be just as important as academic achievements.
“I think it was quite nice that everyone came from different backgrounds, everyone’s done different things. Some people didn’t even go to college but they were still saying they’ve worked their way up,” Lexi-May said.
“I think it shows that it’s not just about academics, it’s about the passion you have.”
These experiences showed students that their own challenges do not have to define their futures, and that there are many different ways to build a fulfilling career.
Discovering opportunities beyond the classroom
Pia Raftier-Burton, Locality Manager covering Kent and Medway at Skills for Care, worked closely with EKC Folkestone College to help bring the event together.
Having worked with colleges across the region for several years, Pia is passionate about ensuring young people understand the breadth of opportunities available within social care.
“My aim is about ensuring that the students understand the many opportunities the social care sector can offer,” she explained.
“I want to make sure that they understand that they can progress, and sometimes very quickly, and that they don’t necessarily need to have the academic qualifications to get into the sector.”
Pia was also delighted with the level of engagement from students throughout the event.
She added: “I’m really pleased with how the event went. I was lucky enough to speak to one of the groups, the students were really engaged, asking lots of questions, I could see the employers were really enjoying talking to the students.”
The opportunity to speak directly with employers helped students explore different career paths, understand the skills valued within the industry and consider how they might progress after completing their studies.
Creating opportunities that make a difference
At EKC Group, which Ashford College and EKC Folkestone College are a part of, we believe learning should extend beyond the classroom, with opportunities for students to connect with employers, discover new possibilities and develop skills that will support them in their future careers.
Events like this are an important part of this experience, helping students gain a better understanding of their chosen industry while building the confidence to pursue their ambitions.
Fiona, Industry Liaison Officer at EKC Folkestone College, highlighted the positive impact of bringing students and employers together.
“This event has been a truly collaborative event, with Skills for Care and KICA leading the way and inviting a fantastic group of social care professionals to EKC Folkestone College.
“The Health and Social Care students from Folkestone and Ashford who attended found it incredibly rewarding, hearing directly from the social care professionals about their routes into the industry, and exactly what their jobs entail.
“They provided incredible insights into their own personal journeys, and inspired the students to consider following similar careers.”
For our first-year Ashford students, the event was more than an opportunity to learn about careers. It was a chance to see what could be possible for their own futures, hear from people they could relate to and return to college feeling more confident about their next steps.
Thank you to our industry partners
We would like to thank Skills for Care and KICA for their collaboration in organising the event, along with all the employers and organisations who generously shared their time, knowledge and experiences with our students:
Their involvement helps us provide meaningful opportunities that connect education with employment and inspire the next generation of social care professionals.
Interested in studying Health and Social Care?
Discover how our Health and Social Care courses at EKC Ashford College can help you develop the knowledge, practical skills and confidence to take your next steps towards a rewarding future. Visit our next Open Day to find out more.
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