Skip to content

College business project is ‘tonderful’

News overview

Industry and educational partnership programme celebrates 100 sign ups

Suffolk New College shook hands with the 100th company to back their industry partnership programme this week.

College executives and business leaders

Set up two years ago, the innovative scheme sees firms in and around East Anglia commit to work with the college for the benefit of students.

All companies pledge to work with the college for a minimum of three times a year to help support learners.

The idea is to help impart knowledge and wisdom to current students to help best prepare them for the world of work.

Becketts – an investment management group – became the 100th business to sign up to the scheme.

Representatives from Becketts came down to the Ipswich campus of the college to shake hands on the deal.

Tony West is a senior financial planner at Becketts. Tony said: “It’s important that we support the next generation in terms of their future careers.

“As part of our commitment, we have already been to the college and chatted to students about financial planning, getting on the property ladder and looking at budgeting and we have also attended careers events – and we have lots of exciting plans ahead.

“To be the 100th company to get involved is fantastic. It’s great to support Suffolk New College – it is a key institution when you are thinking about the development of young people in this region.”

Ian White is the Chief Executive Officer at Becketts was asked why others should get involved. Ian said: “We are keen to support Ipswich, it is becoming more and more vibrant and we want to support learners. We are proud to be part of this partnership.

In terms of why others should sign up I’d turn it round and say why not – it’s the right thing to do.”

Kayleigh Norris is managing the partnership programme for Suffolk New College. Kayleigh said: “It’s a mutually beneficial partnership scheme. Businesses get to know and work with our learners who are their future employees, and it’s become a real community.”

College executives and business leaders

Steve Flory – a business owner, former student of the college and the lead industry partner of this project said: “It’s important for people who are going through the education process to have access to the business world. To get to 100 partners so quicky is unbelievable.”

Marianne Flack in the deputy principal of Suffolk New College. Marianne said: “Businesses get to inform our curriculum and that can help shape their workforce of the future. So, the benefits are huge.”

Principal and CEO of the college, Alan Pease said: “We currently support 3000 young people, 1500 adults and 850 apprentices and there are lots of local and national skills gaps. Therefore, this project is all about working together and we are grateful to everyone who has signed up so far. Our aim is to encourage 50 more businesses to sign up in 2025 – and looking ahead, the potential for this is limitless.”

For more information about this project you can visit: Industry Partners – Suffolk New College

If you want to speak directly to the college about this you can email: kayleighnorris@suffolk.ac.uk

Posted 27 January 2025