Hospitality & Catering

Here in the South East, there is a huge demand for employees in this sector, thanks to the plethora of hotels, entertainment venues and bars and restaurants locally. It can be demanding but is extremely rewarding and an exciting industry to work in. According to GOV.UK, the UK hospitality sector comprises approximately 143,000 businesses, employing around 1.8 million people.

Our hospitality and catering courses will give you the opportunity to learn the essential culinary skills you need to prepare, cook, and serve food. You will gain valuable experience in fully-equipped kitchens and have the freedom to use a range of high-tech equipment, the type you’d expect to find in modern restaurant kitchens.

You’ll also gain experience in cooking for real customers as you serve them in our college restaurant. You’ll have the opportunity to experience different foods, cooking styles, and cultures, at home and abroad, as well as put your skills to the test in local cookery competitions.

We have very professional staff and highly experienced tutors who can bring tried and tested cooking tips and provide you with excellent contacts to employers.

* Current number of jobs in the region: 100,431

* Predicted Growth by 2028: 1.19%

Food & Beverage Service

Level 3

Duration: 1 Year

During this one-year course you will be able to specialise and develop all the skills you need to progress your career in the hospitality industry in a front of house role. You will enhance key skills to ensure you have a thorough understanding of the role and expectations that future employers may expect of you.

What previous qualifications or experience do I need?

Completion of the Level 2 course, and GCSE Maths and English at grade 4.

Food & Beverage Service

Level 2

Duration: 1 Year

This qualification meets the needs of those who want to work front of house within a hospitality environment. It is also for those who want a rounded knowledge of both front of house and the kitchen, which will enable them to look at more senior positions in the future. The qualification covers all aspects of food and beverage service. It will deliver the key skills required to ensure they will have a thorough understanding of the role and expectations that any future employer will expect of them.

What previous qualifications or experience do I need?

Three GCSEs grade 3-9 including Maths and/or English at grade 3, or completion of the Level 1 course.

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Students at ESC.

“The course really prepared me for my career in the hospitality and the catering world. It’s those work placements and opportunities, everything the College provided really, that helped to build up my skills and knowledge for the industry.”

Jupiter Humphrey-Bishop Hospitality & Catering Alumna and Footman from the Royal Household.

Food & Beverage Service

Level 1

Duration: 1 Year

If you are interested in working in front of house in a restaurant then this course is for you. You will gain the skills you need to deliver a great dining experience. You’ll also learn essential skills in areas like food service, food safety, handling payments, bookings, serving hot and cold beverages, bar service, and menu design.

What previous qualifications or experience do I need?

Two GCSEs grade 2-9 including Maths and/or English. Please note, for Level 1 courses flexibility can be offered for those without GCSEs. Subject specific entry criteria may also apply.

Food Preparation & Cooking

Level 1

Duration: 1 Year

Join us for an exciting introduction to catering. During this Level 1 course you will learn preparation, cooking and presentation methods for a variety of dishes. We’ll also help you build your confidence so you can produce tasty dishes for our customers.

What previous qualifications or experience do I need?

Two GCSEs grade 2-9 including Maths and/or English. Please note, for Level 1 courses flexibility can be offered for those without GCSEs. Subject specific entry criteria may also apply.

Hospitality & Catering

Level 2

Duration: 1 Year

On this captivating course you will build and strengthen the skills you need to work in a professional hospitality and catering environment. You will begin to fine-tune your cookery skills and learn how to make stocks, soups, and sauces while getting to know different types of equipment used in a professional kitchen.

What previous qualifications or experience do I need?

Three GCSEs grade 3-9 including Maths and/or English at grade 3, or completion of the Level 1 course.

Hospitality & Catering

Level 1

Duration: 1 Year

Join us for this exciting course in hospitality and catering, where we will help you channel and develop your passion and flair for food and cookery. You will learn skills in food preparation, cooking, and food and beverage service in our modern kitchens and training restaurant.

What previous qualifications or experience do I need?

Two GCSEs grade 2-9 including Maths and/or English. Please note, for Level 1 courses flexibility can be offered for those without GCSEs. Subject specific entry criteria may also apply.

Students at ESC.

“I studied at Hastings campus starting with Level 2 Catering. I then went on to do Level 3 Kitchen Larder and Level 3 Patisserie. Studying at the College was really good fun, I still remember all the tutors. They were really good at encouraging me and pushing me to do well.”

Event Management & Customer Care

Level 2

Duration: 1 Year

During this qualification you will learn how to deliver excellence through customer service with a focus on the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. Alongside, you will gain the skills, knowledge and behaviours required to plan and manage an event.

What previous qualifications or experience do I need?

Three GCSEs grade 3-9 including Maths and/or English, or completion of the Level 1 course.

Professional Cookery

Level 3

Duration: 1 Year

This advanced course will provide you with specialist skills and knowledge of a range of commodities, building on your experience of working in a kitchen or previous study to improve your cooking skills. You will be introduced to various products used within professional kitchens and will study a wide range of topics such as meat, poultry, fish, bread, and desserts. You will also develop your supervisory skills in a live environment.

What previous qualifications or experience do I need?

Completion of the Level 2 course, and GCSE Maths and/or English at grade 4.

The IT industry is continuously growing, with a huge demand for IT professionals. A recent report identified there are nearly 940,000 people employed in the IT, software and computer services subsector of the UK’s Creative Industries. Source: www.statista.com. It seems a no brainer, then, that it pays to have the skills that pay well.

According to a report from the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) in 2022, the tech industry accounts for 5.5% of the UK economy, or £82.6 billion.

Our IT courses will give you the knowledge and skills required for working in this popular industry. Our superb IT suites in each of our campuses will provide you with the perfect tools to explore the latest programs and digital technologies.

* Average Mid Wage: £33,023

* Average Entry Wage: £25,745

* Average Upper Wage: £42,708

* Current number of jobs in the region: 23,014

* Predicted Growth by 2028: 5.03%

* Source: EMSI data report 2022, for East Sussex, Kent, Brighton & Hove. Figures are based on averages from a range of typical career paths, in both part-time and full-time roles, and are intended as a guide only. Please note: salaries may be considerably more depending on the specific role.

Computing & IT

Level 3

Duration: 2 Years

Develop your knowledge and understanding in a range of core elements that will underpin your learning in the digital sector. You will be given a context to the industry, learn the key concepts and theories in digital production, design, and development, and develop the skills you need.

What previous qualifications or experience do I need?

Five GCSEs grade 4-9 including English Language and/or Maths at grade 5. Subject specific entry criteria may also apply.

Games Design & Development

Level 3

Duration: 2 Years

If you love computer games and would like to learn the craft of game creation, then you should join us for this Level 3 course. We will teach you a range of skills that you can combine with your love of gaming to design, create, analyse, and evaluate your own game.

What previous qualifications or experience do I need?

Five GCSEs grade 4-9 including Maths and/or English at grade 4, or completion of the Level 2 course.

Game Art & Animation

Level 3

Duration: 2 Years

This course is the perfect start to a career in the digital design industry. Designed to teach cutting-edge skillsets using a range of industry software. Develop the skills and critical thinking of a designer within a highly creative media environment. Create assets for animations, motion suit to capture real time animation/games, 3D printer to bring your 3D models to life, and the use of the latest Oculus VR headsets.

What previous qualifications or experience do I need?

Five GCSEs grade 4-9 including Maths and/or English at grade 4, or completion of the Level 2 course. EASTBOURNE 60091Y1

Students at ESC.

“IT interests me, I’m really passionate about it. I like the project work and I’m also the class rep meaning I get to feed back on issues to change the wider college.”

McKenzie, Computing & IT student

Games Development

Level 3

Duration: 2 Years

This course is the perfect start for a career in the games industry or further study at university. You should be enthusiastic about analysing what makes games fun to play and making them more challenging for the player. You will develop visual and technical skills to develop your professional approaches to the subject.

What previous qualifications or experience do I need?

Five GCSEs grade 4-9 including Maths at grade 4, or completion of the Level 2 course. EASTBOURNE 60092Y1

IT: Computing & Digital Technologies

Level 2

Duration: 1 Year

This course will provide you with an introduction to both the creative and technical aspects of a range of digital technologies, and give you the requisite skills, knowledge and understanding to progress to further education and employment within the creative and digital industries. Units of study within this course include games design and development, website design and development, setting up computer systems, and network design and development.

What previous qualifications or experience do I need?

Three GCSEs grade 3-9 including Maths and/or English at grade 3, or completion of the Level 1 course. LEWES

According to British Marine research, the industry is supported by over 38,000 jobs directly employed by marine businesses, covering a huge variety of roles and industry sectors. Overall, industry turnover grew 25.3% to £4.23bn in 2021-22 – the industry’s highest total on record.

Our brand-new Marine courses based at our purpose-built Marine Workshops in Newhaven will ensure you have the opportunity to elevate your skills and prepare yourself for a career in the industry.

If you have a passion for science, sea life and ocean ecology, our Biologybased Marine courses will teach you the fundamental skills needed for a career in this rewarding industry. We are also excited to offer two brand new courses focused on Marine Engineering, perfect if you want to gain technical skills in this area. Lessons take place in our fully-equipped workshops featuring machines and welding bays.

In all our Marine courses, practical laboratory work and academic studies combine to provide the perfect learning experience. Dive in!

Marine Biology

Level 2

Duration: 1 Year

This course explores the fundamental knowledge of marine biology and comprises core and specialist units covering the aspects of knowledge, understanding, and skills necessary for progression onto the Level 3 course, which is recognised and respected by employers, professional institutions, and higher education establishments. You will study mandatory units that are designed to cover the body of content that employers within the sector consider essential, which include principles of health and safety, land and wildlife industry, conservation, fish health biology and freshwater fishery management.

What previous qualifications or experience do I need?

Three GCSEs grade 3-9 including Maths and/or English at grade 3, or completion of the Level 1 course.

Marine Biology & Ocean Ecology

Level 3

Duration: 1 Year

On this marine-focused course you will learn about the principles and applications of marine biology, care for aquatic animals and environments, and ocean ecology. Throughout the course you will develop skills in independent learning, lab work, marine biology and research. You will gain knowledge of the oceans, marine biodiversity and the interaction between marine life and humankind. You will also develop an appreciation of the competencies and knowledge required for Higher Education and employment in science-based careers.

What previous qualifications or experience do I need?

Five GCSEs grade 4-9 including English Language, Maths and a Science subject at grade 5, or successful completion of the Level 2 course.

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Marine Construction, Systems Engineering & Maintenance

Level 3

Duration: 1 Year

This course will give you a broad understanding of the marine engineering industry and is suitable for those who work or want to work in the marine engineering and boatbuilding sector. You will learn technical skills in our fully-equipped machine shop and welding bays while gaining a thorough understanding of the theoretical side of engineering in the classroom. The units involve a range of practical laboratory work and academic study, as well as talks from professionals and visits to places of scientific interest and industries.

What previous qualifications or experience do I need?

Five GCSEs grade 4-9 including English Language, Maths and a Science subject at grade 5, or successful completion of the Level 2 course.

Marine Engineering

Level 2

Duration: 1 Year

During this course you will learn theoretical and practical skills that will give you an insight into the vastly rewarding world of marine engineering. You will have practical and theory sessions in our dedicated workshops, taught by experienced marine engineers from a variety of engineering backgrounds. You will build a detailed knowledge of the types of machinery used in engineering, touch upon computer-aided design (CAD) and improve your mathematical and scientific knowledge. You will develop skills in areas such as hand fitting, turning, machining, and welding.

What previous qualifications or experience do I need?

Three GCSEs grade 3-9 including Maths and/or English at grade 3, or completion of the Level 1 course.

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