On 23rd October, Tom Tugendhat, MP for Tonbridge and Malling, visited Hadlow College to meet with students and the Principal.
The visit was part of the Association of College’s annual Colleges Week, celebrating the work colleges do to build communities, boost businesses and support individuals.
Mr Tugendhat met with Principal Dr. Lindsay Pamphilon before visiting the College’s Animal Management Unit (AMU), home to over 200 species including reptiles, amphibians, fish, small mammals, invertebrates and birds.
He joined a group of Level 3 Extended Diploma Animal Management students carrying out duties, supervised by lecturer Sophie Dixon. He chatted to staff and students about how the college and their curriculum area had responded to the challenges brought about by COVID-19, and spoke at length to student Sean Soper, who had gone above and beyond to care for animals at the college during lockdown.
Dr Lindsay Pamphilon said: “It was fantastic to welcome Tom into the College to see our excellent facilities and the enthusiasm of our students and teaching staff. He has been a staunch supporter of Hadlow College and the important role it plays in training and up skilling the current and future employees of the rural sectors”.
“College’s Week allows the FE sector to highlight how closely we work with the young people and adults in Kent & Sussex, as well as the regional and national employers, to offer the necessary training and retraining for their workforce. It also allows us to underline the importance of colleges such as ours in supporting the rural economy, particularly at this time”.
“We thank Tom for all his support and look forward to working with him in the years to come.”