News
Skills and Careers Event a Huge Success
16 March 2010
Over 2000 people visited 100 employers at a Skills and Careers Event held at Kent Science Park on 11th March.
The event, which was opened officially by BBC South East News presenter Rob Smith, Thames Gateway Skills Envoy, Sir David Melville and Cllr. Mike Cosgrove, attracted representatives from a wide range of education and industry sectors.
Organised by the Education Business Partnership and Swale Borough Council, 100 interactive stands gave visitors the opportunity to speak to companies about the skills needed to perform a wide variety of jobs whilst also allowing them to try out activities on their stand to see if they want to pursue a career in their industry.
The Science Zone within Kent Science Park provided visitors with the opportunity to put on a lab coat and goggles to try their hand at Drug Discovery and Microbiology at the Kent Science Resource Centre (KSRC) laboratories.
Julie Colemen, Kent Science Resource Centre Manager said; “Our work with the students today will have enhanced their learning and we hope they take new techniques back to school so their teachers can build on what they have learnt. We believe that this practical experience will really help them to understand what working in a laboratory is all about. “
A Year 12 student from Borden Grammar school who attended the microbiology laboratory experience said; “I really enjoyed the different aspects of learning in the lab. We are usually reading from text books, but today we were able to experience it first hand.”
Carla Aldam, Head of Biology, Borden Grammar School who was overseeing the learning with her students commented on the facilities at the Kent Science Resource Centre; “This Centre has the most amazing clean labs that are completely modern so students see the development of science, but in facilities that are so much better than in a school setting."
Tours of state-of-the-art working labs were conducted throughout the day by Eclipse Scientific. Eclipse Scientific showed visitors how they go about the microbiological, physical and chemical testing of food at their Kent Science Park laboratories.
James Speck, Site Director of Kent Science Park, says; “The Science Zone taster sessions are designed to inspire young people to look closer at furthering their education in the field of science here in Swale at the KSRC” and adds; “The sessions gave the students valuable hands-on experience whilst demonstrating the exciting range of jobs that they could go on to in the life-science sector."
It wasn’t all about science and technology on the day because over 80 stands at the adjacent Woodstock Club were available to explore more general industries.
Employers from a wider range of sectors such as the Wirebelt Company, EDF Energy, NHS, Thomas Cook, Morrisons, Denne Construction and the Prison Service were among those exhibiting.
Demonstrations and interactive stands from local small businesses involved in the event ranged from beauty therapy and how to change the wheel of a car to puzzle solving, dance and how to become a photographer.
James Speck says; “Swale has a diverse range of employers – from life science and ICT to manufacturing and manual or skilled trades. Whilst Kent Science Park is focusing on knowledge intensive sectors, The Swale Skills & Careers Event as a whole provided the people of Swale and beyond an opportunity to come to our Science Park to experience a taste of what they can expect from working in Swale, as well as to find out what they need to do to get a job with the employers exhibiting."
Sir David Melville, Thames Gateway Skills Envoy was impressed with the event and during his opening address said; “Kent Science Park is a gem, it’s a location for companies employing people with high level skills. We want to raise the aspirations of the youngsters here to get the best possible education, so they go onto further education or university and come back to work in Swale."
“An event like this enables people to see there are interesting jobs locally that contribute to the economy, and a strong economy contributes to the wellbeing of human beings.”
Cllr Mike Cosgrove, Executive Member Finance and Performance; Learning & Skills said in his opening address; “I don’t think I can overestimate the importance of Kent Science Park. At the moment they have got something like 80 companies doing some very high-tech work with a whole range of very skilled staff contributing a significant amount."
“We are in a global economy and Kent Science Park and the companies within it have got massive outreach in the work they do. The future is looking really bright for Swale, and Kent Science Park is the jewel in the South East crown.”
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