Why working at Sussex Coast College Hastings is different to anywhere else

Working at Sussex Coast College Hastings is brilliant. We are a general further education college in Hastings, offering a wide range of courses that include A-Levels, Vocational Diplomas, Apprenticeships, Degrees and Part-time courses.

We have three modern campuses at Station Plaza, Ore Valley and the Automotive Centre at Ivyhouse Lane, which we moved into in 2011. We have some amazing facilities and resources for students to learn their trade in including a fully-equipped gym, commercial hair and beauty salons, a training kitchen and commercial restaurant, fuselage, art studios with a printing press and kiln, and real-life working environments to practice brickwork, plumbing and carpentry.

But what makes working at Sussex Coast College different?

We’re a close-knit bunch…

It might sound like a cliché, but we really are like a family. Our unique bond and togetherness plays a big part in helping to make our college a friendly and inspiring place; something that students and staff want to be part of. And Ofsted agree. During our inspection in December 2017, inspectors commented that “Students have exemplary attitudes to learning and behave very well. They respect each other, their teachers and assessors.”

Everything is rosy when things are good, but you can tell a lot about an organisation by the way staff pull together in challenging times; and we do exactly that. There is a great sense of teamwork, and colleagues are always happy to go out of their way to help each other “Leaders and managers have created a very positive environment for learning where everyone is valued.”

We have fantastic training opportunities to help our staff develop…

We have fantastic opportunities for personal development. At the start of each new term we put on staff development programmes that all staff can attend free of charge. We arrange external companies to visit the college and put on sessions to help improve teamwork, discuss mindfulness and well-being, and up-skill our staff with the latest technology.

We also have a range of part-time training courses available at the college, either from our own provision or at our on-site pitman training centre. We’re able to fund or part fund relevant courses, that will benefit their job role and help them to development their skills. For instance, staff who work in student support roles, regularly offering advice and guidance to students about their careers, have been able to complete a Level 4 Careers, Information and Advice Diploma.

But one of the biggest advantages of working here is the opportunity to train as a teacher while you do the job. This is perfect for anyone who wants a change of career, or anyone with an exceptional amount of experience in a specific industry. People can be put off by a career in teaching because they think they need to have a teaching qualification behind them already; but that isn’t the case. We can offer PGCE and Cert Ed qualifications, which again can be funded or part funded by the college, to help train you in the art of teaching while you are working.

We champion home-grown talent…

We know the value of keeping hold of our staff, helping them to grow, and become the managers of the future. We have an extensive range of home-grown talent at the college. Staff members, who have been with us for a number of years, are now coaching our newest recruits. One of our shining examples is a member of staff who started out as a sessional catering tutor 10 years ago, and is now a curriculum area manager.

We live our college values…

Our staff live our college values every day. We strive to inspire, we’re focused and we’re passionate. We don’t need to be reminded of our values, because we respect each other, we’re polite and friendly, and we help one another at every opportunity. We do this because we care about the college, the students and the community.

Our colleagues know what’s going on…

We have an open and transparent culture at the college, where our Senior Leadership Team is able to share important college news and information. We are able to inform all of our colleagues about the performance of the college, from exam results to the types of challenges we face in the public sector. We use our staff development days as an opportunity to keep our staff up to date, but also encourage them to raise concerns, ask questions, and give feedback.

So, as you can see, Sussex Coast College Hastings is a great place to work because you will be supported from the moment you join, made to feel like one of the team, and given the opportunities to grow and develop.