Craig welcomes Education Secretary to Yarrow Hotel in Broadstairs to meet East Kent College Staff and Apprentices

Craig Mackinlay MP has accompanied the Secretary of State for Education, Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP, to a visit to the Yarrow Hotel in Broadstairs to meet with East Kent College’s Executive Director Strategy and Partnerships, Paul Sayers and some of the students and apprentices working and learning at the hotel, including Seb Anning, a Broadstairs College apprentice in PR and Corporate Communications.

The South Thanet MP and Paul Sayers showed the Education Secretary around the hotel, which is owned and operated by the EKC Group, and offers high quality training for East Kent College students.

As well as highlighting the entrepreneurial nature of the Yarrow Hotel, Mr Sayers raised the issue of funding on the wider Further Education sector.

Craig Mackinlay MP, commented:

“East Kent College is a massive asset to our region and the Yarrow Hotel plays a pivotal role in providing a quality education and work experience to students and apprentices wanting to work in the growing hospitality industry.

“It’s important that the Secretary of State came here to see the excellent work the College and its students do in our community, and also hear directly from College leaders like Paul Sayers about the challenges around securing sufficient and sustainable funding.”

Executive Director Strategy and Partnerships at ECK Group, Paul Sayers, said:

“It was wonderful to welcome the Secretary of State for Education to our unique Broadstairs hotel, The Yarrow, and to show him how we are marrying educational provision with real world commercial experiences for our students.

“Damian seemed very engaged in our entrepreneurial approach to ensuring our students get the best learning opportunities and career progression, and I hope he will consider building on some of our innovations through new policy initiatives.”

Secretary of State for Education, Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP, added:

“It was great to be invited to visit the Yarrow Hotel in National Apprenticeship Week, strongly recommended by Craig.

“Coming from a background in hospitality, it was fantastic to see the facilities available to local young people to train in and hear about the opportunities provided by East Kent College Group.”

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