Industry Links

Industry Links

The Health & Social Care team have close links with Southport and Ormskirk Hospital and Liverpool Women’s Hospital, providing students the opportunity to gain work experience within the NHS. Our Creative Media and Photography departments work closely with the Atkinson in Southport giving students a place to exhibit work, films and animations and take part in collaborative projects.

Links with the armed forces, police and fire service gives our Public Services students valuable insight in to the sector they are interested in and our Sport tutors have strong links with local sports related organisations such as Everton FC, Southport FC and North West Soccer Schools. Our Sports students also run regular leadership activities including running coaching sessions for school children and also visit local fitness clubs such as Dunes Leisure Centre, Lakeside Leisure Centre, Chill Factore and Marine Lake.

The Travel and Tourism team use their strong links with local businesses such as Premier Inn, Co-op Travel, Formby Golf Club, easyJet, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Bliss Hotel and STA travel to give the students direct experience of careers in that sector and the Forensic and Criminal Investigation course is kept realistic and up-to-date by working with with Cumbria University and Merseyside Constabulary

Live Projects

Around 50% of the projects our Graphic Design students work on are ‘live’ which means they are working to real-life briefs for businesses and organisations or brand development, footwear campaigns, issue-based projects, international competitions and design. Creative Media students are also prepared for careers in the industry by working on ‘live’ projects for Farmageddon, Samaritans and Learning on Screen (British Film Institute).

Guest Speakers & Workshops

Professional Cookery students working in our Clouds Restaurant learn new skills from regular guest chef demonstrations and Hospitality students have regular visits from professional barista and wine sommeliers who pass on their industry knowledge and skills to students through demonstrations and workshops. Our beauty students take part in professional workshops and benefit from the industry knowledge of guest speakers and trainers.

Business students have the chance to be involved in realistic experiences with mock events such as Dragon’s Den, where students can present their ideas to representatives from the business world and our Computing department have strong links with businesses and universities, giving students opportunities such as talks and workshops with representatives from companies including Google and Microsoft.

Work placements

Many of our courses have a work placement element, where students are out on placement, either in blocks, or one day a week, all year. These work placements are the idea opportunity for students to put their classroom learning in to practice.

Careers and Apprenticeship Events

As part of National Apprenticeship Week and National Careers Week, Southport College hosted an Apprenticeship event including the NHS, Fletchers Solicitors, Lattimers, Sefton Council, Edge Hill University and the LCR Apprenticeship Hub Ambassdors. The event gave current students and local school pupils the chance to speak to a wide range of employer about Apprenticeship opportunities.

Students also get the chance to attend talks and fairs in our Get Into.. events which focus on particular sectors and the essential skills students need to start their careers. Students can attend talks, and meeting employers to discuss careers and Apprenticeship opportunities.