Loughborough College Group Welcomes Employers for End-of-Year Celebration Event

Loughborough College proudly hosted its end of year Employer Celebration at Stephenson College, Coalville this week, bringing together valued industry partners for an evening of insight, collaboration, and recognition.

The event welcomed representatives from a diverse range of organisations, including DATR, Toyota Material Handling, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Coalville CAN, Inotiv, Leicester and Leicestershire Business and Skills Partnership, MSC Cleaning and Maintenance, and Radfield Home Care. The gathering provided an opportunity to strengthen relationships and celebrate a shared commitment to supporting young people and developing future talent across the region.

The evening began with a welcome address from Stephenson College Principal, Jonny Watkin, who highlighted the College Group’s specialist campuses, strong employer partnerships and key achievements over the past year.

Jonny reflected on the College Group’s major successes, including its ‘highly commended’ recognition at a range of industry and education awards, and the continued impact of the Skills Unlocked conference, which the College hosted as part of the Leicestershire Innovation Festival. He also outlined how the College Group continues to respond to employer needs through innovative education and training provision.

Jonny said of the evening: “Events like this are a fantastic opportunity to bring together the employers who play such a vital role in shaping the future workforce. We are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together over the past year, and the strength of our partnerships continues to drive meaningful opportunities for our full-time students and apprentices alike. By working collaboratively, we can ensure our curriculum remains aligned with industry needs and that our students are fully prepared to succeed in their chosen careers.”

A key highlight of the event was a presentation from Lynn Coyles, Emma Kendrick, and John D’Souza of the DWP. Emma shared details of the government’s upcoming Youth Job Guarantee, and also announced the forthcoming launch of Youth Hubs in Coalville and Melton, expected to open between October and December this year. The Hubs will operate three days a week, offering a one-stop service for CV and careers advice, skills training, employer engagement opportunities, mental health support, and more. 

Debbie Keegan, Head of Employer Engagement at Loughborough College Group, closed the formal presentations by highlighting future opportunities for businesses to work even more closely with the College Group. These include involvement in skills advisory panels and networking sessions, giving employers a direct voice in shaping curriculum design to ensure programmes align with workforce needs.

The event concluded with a relaxed BBQ in the sunshine, allowing attendees to continue conversations and celebrate the achievements of the past academic year.

For more information about employer partnerships or upcoming events, please contact Loughborough College Group’s Employer Engagement team at employerinfo@loucoll.ac.uk or on 01509 515 461.