South Thames College Employers Fair

On 7^th March 2018 Fashion Enter visited South Thames College an educational establishment in Wandsworth, south west London over 100 years old. In 2009, the College merged with Merton College, another thriving education establishment in South West London.

The Employer Fair, part of Employability week, began with an employer breakfast, giving an opportunity to find out about apprenticeships, training, support for employers and enabling organisations to network.

Employability week gives students an opportunity to find out about future employment, careers, training and apprenticeship opportunities that may be available. By meeting employers and sector organisations, students will gain an invaluable insight into the world of work. This was also an opportunity for Fashion Enter to advertise and possibly recruit for future vacancies in the pipeline. Students and tutors attended in groups during the day and worked their way around the various stands, asking questions about our social enterprise and industry sector.

https://www.south-thames.ac.uk/employability-week

The group were absolutely fantastic and could readily see the importance of working on technical skills with the courses run by Fashion Enter and their Fashion Technology Academy.

The main courses are:

Perfect Patterns level 1 and 2: The level 1 course does not require previous experience. Within five weeks you will learn the fundamentals of pattern making: how to draft blocks and use them to create your patterns. You will practice taking standard and personal measurements and apply them to your patterns effectively. We will teach you using a range of methods and techniques including the unique Telestia system. The level 2 course will allow you to build on the knowledge from the level 1 and produce a range of valuable, in demand and technical pattern drafting and cutting skills within a ten week period. There are four units learners will be working towards and a writing assignment element also.

STITCHING Academy Level 1 and 2 – The level 1 Stitching course does not require previous experience. Within six weeks, you will learn how to make garments using an industrial sewing machines and how to operate them safely. The level 2 Stitching course will allow them to build on the knowledge from the level 2 and produce a more complex garment within a twelve week period. There are five units learners will be working towards and a writing assignment element also.
Progression opportunities from our level 2 courses would be joining a level 3 apprenticeship programme which is 18 months long and equivalent of two A levels. You would be required to work four days a week with an employer and one day train with us towards the qualification.

Sue Rathmell, career advisor at South Thames College, said: ‘On behalf of South Thames College I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for supporting our recent employability events at our Wandsworth campus; I very much hope you enjoyed your time with us’.

Sue continued: ‘The Employability Week has proven to be a huge success with our students and staff. The Employer Fair was an opportunity for our students to gain direct knowledge about a wide range of industries and this will help them firm up their progression plans. The Mock Interviews enabled our students to gain a much greater insight into the skills they will need to develop to succeed in their chosen career pathways’.

The FTA was set up by a grant from Haringey Council and a soft loan from asos.com and in line with recent CBI reports issued in July 2018 there is real optimism and confidence in the world of manufacturing today. 47% of manufacturers interviewed confirmed that their orders were up on the year compared to just 17% who said their orders were down.

The FTA opens their doors to all local providers and social interest groups that want to upskill their attendees. Haringey is undertaking a major transformation and Fashion Enter is proud to be part of the regeneration of Haringey Council.