From Education to Employment: How Middlesbrough College Is Bridging the Gap

To celebrate National Careers Week and Colleges Week, I had the pleasure of visiting Middlesbrough College alongside Susan Acland-Hood, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Education.  

The Government is committed to expanding opportunity for young people through meaningful work experience and enrichment activities, and the Tees Valley Careers Hub is responding. In partnership with Middlesbrough College, they are innovating to ensure every learner has a clear line of sight to future pathways and the skills to access them, providing inclusive careers outreach and enrichment opportunities aligned with local skills ambitions. Achieving the national ambition will require coordinated local collaboration and quality standards rooted in inclusivity.  

This commitment is deeply embedded at Middlesbrough College. As Craig Duggan, Director of Inclusive Learning, explained during our visit, “Careers and enrichment is a part of everything we do but it is nothing without an inclusive approach that provides equity of opportunity for all. Connecting a love of learning to skills development and community belonging is the ultimate mission to ensure our learners see themselves as a vital part of their cities, towns, communities and local economies of the future.” 

Provision must meet the needs of all learners. Young people with SEND are significantly less likely to be in employment 15 years after their GCSEs. Reducing NEET levels depends on unlocking every young person’s potential, ensuring opportunity is accessible to all.

Local Councillor, Lisa Evans, agrees "It's essential that our talented young people get the very best advice and guidance to build successful careers. "This is a fantastic showcase of how our organisations are working together to build a network of support to help young people develop their skills, get vital work experience and access the high-quality job opportunities we are bringing to our region” 

Middlesborough College has lived and breathed this ethos for some time. In 2023/24, their pioneering work in this area was recognised when they won the AoC’s Beacon Award for Excellence in Careers and Enterprise. The award assessors highlighted how the college provides students with real-life insight into the world of work, regularly engaging employers to shape the curriculum, identify gaps, and to ensure all learners have the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life. 

The latest partnership is with Discovery, a specialist institution laser-focused on supporting learners with SEN to access tailored, high-quality careers support and workplace experiences. Learners at the college provide peer mentorship, a valuable enrichment exercise for them to apply their learning and support the local community.  Jennifer Duncan, Deputy CEO, Tees Valley Education Trust, and Executive Head Teacher at Discovery Special Academy, highlighted that, “In connecting education to the real world, through workplace experiences and enrichment opportunities, we are supporting our learners, many of whom have complex needs, to access opportunity in our community. This project has enabled our young people to recognise future opportunities and employment pathways, and working with partners can inspire further collaboration to ensure that all young people leave education ambitious for the future.” 

Modern Work Experience is already improving career readiness and helping learners progress into sustained destinations. In National Careers Week, alongside Colleges Week, we celebrate the educators, employers and partners working together to ensure every young person, regardless of background, is supported to take their next best step.  

To find out more about Modern Work Experience, visit here.