Eastleigh College are pleased to have welcomed back employers to our campus for a productive community breakfast.

Following the launch of the Employer Board last year, the College has hosted the first Board meeting of the year, with the ambition of starting 2023 strongly and setting goals for the year ahead. Since our previous meeting in October 2022, our Board membership has seen growth of almost 20% with 22 local employers now registered, representing businesses across communications, sport, engineering, property development and motor vehicle industries to name a few.

In addition to identifying skills gaps and training shortages in the local area, assessing implemented changes since our last Board meeting and discovering future collaboration opportunities, much of the meeting focused on the exciting new Solent Freeport development, which is expected to create over 16,000 new jobs in the Solent area and present unprecedented trade opportunities while making a strong contribution to local skills needs.

Chris Herbert, Strategy Lead (Economy) at Eastleigh Borough Council, gave an informative speech on the Freeport development and commented: “Expressions of interest from local businesses in the borough to engage with the skills forum are welcomed by the Freeport Board. This is a unique opportunity to help determine the future skills needed on the Navigator Quarter tax site, to drive economic growth and provide high skills and well rewarded jobs for our residents”.

Discussing the importance of the Employer Board, Tom Harvey, Organisation Development Manager at Silverlake Recycling, said: “Being part of the Employer Board has helped Silverlake to develop a strong working relationship with the College. Having the opportunity to discuss our skills gaps and explore how by working together we can fill those gaps is beneficial to both Silverlake and the College. Staff from the College have taken time to visit and understand our business which I believe has helped when putting forward candidates for work experience and work placements. We have been very lucky to have hosted some fantastic young students and some have now joined us in full time employment. Our partnership with Eastleigh College is very important to us and we look forward to working together for many years.”

Alison Noble, Director of Browns’ Hair Lounge, commented: “‘The Employer Board Breakfast meetings are a great opportunity for likeminded business owners, and our local College to work together to ensure that our students and apprentices have access to the right training to give them the skillsets they need to fulfil the work opportunities within our local region.”

As always with our Employer Breakfasts, a variety of delicious food was on display from our talented East Avenue Restaurant team, such as bacon rolls, fruit, pastries, tea and coffee.

For more information, please contact the College at BeBetter@eastleigh.ac.uk.