A memorable graduation day for North Kent College apprentices

North Kent College apprentices attended the inaugural Kent and Medway Apprentice Graduation Ceremony held at Rochester Cathedral on Friday 4th October. With over 200 apprentices and their families and friends and 120 VIP guests the graduation celebrated apprentices who successfully completed their qualification between 1st January 2018 and 31st August 2019. 

North Kent College’s apprentices, Becky Szekely who worked with Runway apprenticeships in conjunction with North Kent College’s marketing team, and Luke Wood, Zius Boothby and Cameron Bonthron who worked with Axis were able to invite their family and their employer to share and experience the special occasion with them. 

Kent Association of Training Organisations (KATO) organised and brought this event to life as they wanted to celebrate apprentices’ achievements in the same way a University Graduate is celebrated. Kelly Tolhurst MP was a special guest and speaker at the ceremony and she presented a certificate to the apprentices on stage and congratulated them for successfully achieving and meeting their goals.

Joe Ibrahim, Managing Director of Projects at Axis, commented, “We are extremely proud of the training at college our apprentices have had, in days of where Further Education is always being criticised”. 

Becky Szekely, North Kent College’s Apprentice in Digital Marketing, said, “I never thought I would be able to graduate as I decided to take the apprenticeship route rather than progressing onto university. I am so grateful to KATO Network who hosted an apprenticeship graduation ceremony, as myself and many others finally got to have their graduation cap and gown moment. It is nice to see that people are starting to recognise apprentices hard work and I hope that this event continues to take place every year, so more people can celebrate on their academic achievements”.

We are so proud of our apprentices and we are delighted that they were given the opportunity to have a full day of celebration for completing their apprenticeship!