What skills will employers need from the next generation of workers? And how can colleges make sure students are ready for a changing world of work?
These were the questions at the heart of the Sector Specialist Curriculum Brunch at London South Bank Technical College, where employers, industry specialists and teaching staff came together to share ideas and explore how education can keep pace with changing industries.
Following the success of last year's event, this year's gathering provided another opportunity to bring industry experience into conversations about what students learn, the skills they develop and how they prepare for their future careers.
Learning from the people working in industry
The morning began with brunch, networking and short talks from senior leaders, including Principal Craig Hanlon Smith, Curriculum Director Laura Kavanagh and Gina Mensah, Head of Student Engagement and Wellbeing.
The discussions highlighted the importance of strong relationships between education and industry, including how employers can help shape course content and support students in gaining valuable workplace experience.
For South Bank Colleges, these conversations are an important way to understand what employers are looking for and how courses can reflect the realities of working in different sectors.
What skills will the next generation need?
Following the opening talks, employers and industry specialists joined teachers in their respective curriculum areas for more detailed discussions about their sectors.
Guests were invited to reflect on three key questions: what has changed in their industry over the past 12 to 18 months, which employability skills matter most and what developments or challenges could shape the future.
With technology continuing to evolve, including the growing impact of artificial intelligence, these conversations gave teaching staff an opportunity to hear directly from people working in industry about the changes they are seeing and anticipating.
The discussions also explored the skills that matter beyond technical knowledge. Communication, teamwork, adaptability and other employability skills can all play an important role in helping people succeed at work.
Understanding these expectations helps curriculum teams consider how students can develop the practical knowledge and wider skills needed to progress into employment.
Turning conversations into opportunities for students
The value of the event goes beyond sharing ideas. It is about exploring how industry knowledge can inform learning and create meaningful opportunities for students.
Discussions considered ways employers could continue working with the College, from contributing to assignment briefs and delivering masterclasses to supporting student competitions and recognising learner achievements.
These connections can help students understand how their studies relate to the workplace, hear directly from industry professionals and gain insight into the opportunities available within their chosen fields.
For employers, working with South Bank Colleges offers an opportunity to share their experience and help shape the development of future talent.
Preparing students for what comes next
The world of work will continue to change, bringing new technologies, expectations and opportunities across different industries. Keeping education connected to these changes is an important part of preparing students for their next steps.
By bringing employers and teaching staff together, the Sector Specialist Curriculum Brunch helps strengthen the relationship between what students learn at College and what they may encounter in the workplace.
These conversations will help inform ongoing work to develop relevant courses, build employability skills and prepare students to approach their future careers with knowledge, confidence and ambition.
Through continued collaboration with industry, South Bank Colleges is working to ensure students are equipped not only for the jobs available today, but also for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
