insideKENT Magazine Issue 36 - March 2015 | Page 15

NEWS £4.4M INVESTMENT FOR EAST KENT COLLEGE AT FOLKESTONE The redevelopment of East Kent College’s Folkestone campus has been given a boost with a contribution of £500,000 from Shepway District Council. Leader of Shepway District Council, David Monk, said the council was delighted to be able to play its part in the redevelopment of the Shorncliffe Road campus. A total of £4.4 million is being invested in the Shorncliffe Road campus, with the balance coming from the Skills Funding Agency. He said: “We have no statutory obligation to contribute towards further or higher education. However, we are forward thinking enough to recognise that the economic wellbeing of the district, as well as the personal development of local young people, relies on access to good, high-quality training. We were delighted when East Kent College took over our local campus and we know it will deliver.” East Kent College principal, Graham Razey, said: “We are extremely grateful that Shepway District Council is supporting our mission to improve the prospects for young people in the area. We design courses to provide skills that are appropriate for the area and offer real prospects to students. “Hospitality has always played a huge role in the Shepway economy and as East Kent College is recognised as a Centre of Culinary Excellence, we are very pleased to be building a new restaurant and bar alongside a function space, providing students with a real-life training environment.” onsite. Open to the public, the salon at E ast Kent College will see treatments provided by students under the full supervision of qualified teaching staff. A new centre for supported learning will provide an environment that promotes increased confidence for students. East Kent College’s award-winning Supported Learning Study Programmes enable young people and adults with learning difficulties or disabilities to gain life and work skills while studying. With Folkestone’s creative sector thriving, the college will be constructing a performing arts centre and developing The Edge, which offers a combination of a Peter Jones Enterprise Academy and courses in design, photography and film. Courses in construction – which covers everything from bricklaying to painting and decorating – early years and childcare, social care, and sport and leisure are also on offer at Shorncliffe Road. Work is already underway on the upgraded facilities, which will be operational after the Easter break. Applications are now being accepted for the September term. East Kent College also has campuses in Broadstairs and Dover, both of which are also receiving investment. For more information, visit www.eastkent.ac.uk. In addition, a new commercial and training beauty salon is being built 15