College group marks a decade of success

East Kent Colleges Group (EKC Group) is celebrating 10 years of growth after publishing its latest impact report, which showcases its successes over the past decade.

From being recognised as an Outstanding provider of education by Ofsted in 2023, to scooping several prestigious awards, EKC Group – which is the largest provider of further education and technical skills in the region – stands as a beacon of education excellence and economic empowerment. In 2014/15, the group supported approximately 1,000 learners aged 16-19. It now educates and trains around 7,000 young people, more than 5,000 adult learners, and more than 1,300 apprentices each year, marking significant growth.

Supporting not just its learners, but also the communities it serves over the past decade, the group has made a £350 million contribution to East Kent’s gross value added through £80 million of direct capital investment in East Kent. It has also built valuable partnerships with organisations such as The Marlowe Theatre, Kent Refugee Action Network, and more.

Additionally, it has championed inclusion over the past decade and subsequently been recognised with a Beacon Award for its EKC Training provision in Eastchurch, which provides courses for prisoners under release on temporary licence. Also contributing to its growth are the 50,000 learners and 1,319 staff members who have taken part in community action projects and delivered more than 358,000 hours of social action over the past decade.

EKC Group’s CEO Lucy McLeod said:

“Looking back over the past decade, I feel an immense sense of pride in everything we’ve achieved at EKC Group.

“We’ve supported thousands of students in reaching their potential through outstanding education, and none of that would have been possible without the dedication and passion of our exceptional colleagues.

“The transformative impact, both socially and economically, that we have been able to deliver through working in partnership with the communities we serve is tremendous, and I am truly proud to lead such a committed team. I’m now excited about the opportunities the next 10 years will bring for our East Kent community, as our group continues to grow and innovate.” www.ekcgroup.ac.uk