I joined MidKent College initially as sickness cover at the City Way campus whilst studying my DTLLS with the University of Kent. I was then offered sessional hours to assist in logging my required teaching hours for the DTLLS and further develop my teaching.

When the Horsted and City Way campuses joined and relocated to a brand new purpose-built campus in Gillingham, I was employed as a sessional lecturer which led to a full-time post in 2009. The support, training and encouragement over the years has seen me now progress into management.

At MidKent College, staff are not just a number, but individuals who are encouraged to communicate ideas and queries directly to line managers and senior management via dedicated communication channels. Staff focus days brings all staff together to help map out the policies, values, and mission of the College where students are at the forefront of what we do. Staff at MidKent College are part of a family and it’s a great place to work, be it for experienced staff or those starting their teaching career.

I have been at MidKent College for about 13 years. I first started as a sessional Business lecturer, then after one year became a permanent member of staff. I enjoy teaching all aspects of Business and sharing my industry experience with our students. The most rewarding part of the job is seeing the students' progression throughout their journey at MidKent College. As well as my role as a Business Lecturer at MidKent College, I am also the Union Secretary for the College’s recognised union UCU. I have been in this role for about five years now and thoroughly enjoy supporting our College members and helping to develop policies/practices across the college. Both the Business and Union team I am a part of are very supportive which makes my role even more enjoyable.

Being Medway born and bred, the opportunity to join my local College after  16 years of developing my career elsewhere was just too strong to resist...

What do I value most about this organisation? We're a people business; we put our students at the core of everything we do, but know that to serve them effectively we need to prioritise our staff too. As a result, I have a brilliant relationship with my line manager, who values my input, recognises my achievements, and challenges me to grow. 

Importantly, the College does a lot to support my health and wellbeing - I really appreciate the commitment to wellbeing days, to the Workplace Health Coach, and to the way my colleagues are always looking out for each other. All of these things could be understandably overlooked in a fast-paced work environment, but the College goes the extra mile to provide this support. 

We also recognise (which is no surprise given the nature of our business) the transformational power of education and training. I've always felt supported to explore ongoing learning and development, and nothing quite beats the rush of seeing something new coming to fruition at work because of something I've learned.

I joined the MidKent College team in March 2023, dauntingly leaving a job I had done for 18yrs to take on a new and exciting role as Learning & Development Coordinator. 

At the College our staff are crucial in everything we do. I am proud to be a part of the team which offers our staff an extensive portfolio of CPD, Health, and Wellbeing initiatives. 

The College promotes an inclusive culture for all and is a great environment for me to be me. I can bring all of myself to my role and be my best.