In February 2025, thirty-six students from Milton Keynes College embarked on a trip of a lifetime to learn skills from experts in Thai cookery and massage. Student chefs and beauty therapists were given tuition in Bangkok over fifteen nights, working long days in training and revising for several hours more in the evenings. While the Catering students learned new recipes at the Suan Dusit International Culinary School, the Beauty Therapy students gained new skills at the Chiva-Som Academy.

The trip was enabled by a Turing Grant from the Department for Education, which is made for educational trips and work placements around the world – particularly for students from deprived areas.

Lucy Shamaro, Course Team Leader for Catering and Hospitality, said she was incredibly impressed by the way the students threw themselves into the experience: “The learners were absolutely amazing. They really embraced this opportunity and clearly recognised the trip for the incredible chance that it was. It was a success beyond anything we had expected.”

Louise Naish, Course Team Leader for Hair and Beauty, said: “The trainers were absolutely amazing, very thorough with their explanation of the theory side of things and with the practical. All the learners did brilliantly. Both groups of students were tested on what they’d been taught at the end of the week, and everybody passed and received their certificates. These are real skills they’ve now absorbed which will genuinely help them when they go to work.”

While there are courses in Thai cuisine and massage available in the UK, the staff and students agreed that being trained by expert practitioners in their own country adds a unique degree of authenticity. On their return to the UK, the students are putting their new skills to use straight away.  Members of the public visiting the College’s own restaurant, The Brasserie, will be able to sample Thai food on 1st and 8th May in a menu composed by the students, and anyone wanting a Thai massage will soon be able to book in at The Graduate Salon for a bit of pampering.

Nikola Komorowska, Beauty Therapy student, said: “It was an amazing experience. We learnt skills we would never be able to learn in the UK. What’s more, we were able to discover what Thai culture is like, and how people live in such a faraway country. To be honest, I wasn’t ready to come home.”

Ania Bodimeade, fellow Beauty Therapy student, said: “The people in Thailand are so very friendly and warm. Everyone was kind and made us feel so welcome.”

Two of the apprentice chefs who went on the trip work at Unity Place.

Nick Male, Head Executive Chef at Unity Place, said: “The recent trip to Thailand was an incredible opportunity for our Unity Place apprentices, to broaden their horizons and deepen their understanding of global cuisine. It was amazing to see how inspired and enthusiastic Chloe and Fraser were when they returned – full of new ideas, techniques, and a renewed passion for their craft. Experiences like this not only strengthen their skills but also fuel their ambition to build successful careers in the culinary world.”

The trip was enabled by a Turing Grant from the Department for Education, which is made for educational trips and work placements around the world – particularly for students from deprived areas.

Maria Bowness, MK College Group Director for Curriculum and Pedagogy, was in overall charge of the trip. She said it was lifechanging for her as much as the students: “Some of our students had never been out of Milton Keynes before, let alone out of the country. We made clear to them before we went that this wasn’t a holiday – it was a serious work opportunity.

“I was so impressed by the way they all took that very much to heart. We put them through a tough selection process, but they became fabulous ambassadors for the College and the country. The travel company we used in Thailand was impressed by how punctual and respectful our students were.  Young people can get a really bad reputation, but the trip reinforced how impressive and committed our students are and I am extremely proud of them.”

Book into the Brasserie or visit the Graduate Salon in Bletchley.

KPMG partners with MK College Group to educate T Level learners on ethics in AI

Since joining MK College Group as an anchor partner for the South Central Institute of Technology (SCIoT) in Bletchley in 2019, KPMG have been heavily involved in a range of projects, offering their expertise to both staff and learners as a leading provider of professional services for businesses, employers and individuals. 

In 2023, discussion began on how KPMG could work more closely with the SCIoT to educate future talent on the importance of applying ethics and ethical thinking when considering the use of or using Artificial Intelligence (AI). This led to the design and development of a series of six modules on Ethics in AI by KPMG learning experts together with ethical AI leaders who support many organisations across sectors.  

Designed for students at the SCIoT, the first round of the Data and AI Ethics Programme saw T Level Cyber learners study the programme which was delivered over six weeks by industry-leading professionals from KPMG, starting in November 2024. The topics covered included why data and AI should be used in an ethical way, understanding data and AI risks, managing these risks and preparing for what’s coming next in the world of AI. The sessions are delivered face-to-face, centred around a scenario that is provided to learners to discuss in break out groups and then talk through as a whole class.  

Reflecting on KPMG’s contribution to the project, Caroline Indge, Head of Partnerships and Innovation at MK College Group, said: “At Milton Keynes College Group we are acutely aware of the importance of Artificial Intelligence, the benefits it brings and potential risks. Working with KPMG to create an engaging programme that enables our curious and inquisitive students to understand the importance of applying ethics to their thinking has been invaluable. The business intelligence and passion that KPMG has included within the modules adds another dimension to the learning experience, bringing real life ideas and concepts enhancing the debates, and reinforcing the value of the content.    

“The course has given learners the opportunity to question AI and consider the wider implications of its use in a variety of industries. Having KPMG’s experts involved means that students get to see real-world case studies, and question how decisions were made and why,” says Caroline Indge. “Our participants are getting the skills they’ll need to flourish in an AI-enabled workforce. That’s possible because we’re working in partnership with KPMG. That’s what’s making the difference.”  

When asked about their views on the best thing about the course, students said: 

“Having people from different industries who have already encountered ethical use of AI and having them describe their experiences and their own opinions was the best part about this course.” 

“The variety of people who came into speak to talk, and their various roles in KPMG.” 

“The best thing about this course is that there is a group focus that is related to the industry.” 

As an SCIoT anchor partner, this was an opportunity for KPMG to directly engage with our students, providing business essential skills, critical thinking opportunities and an insight into the challenges faced by the corporate world. 

Reflecting on the partnership with KPMG, Penny Langford, Executive Head of Digital at the South Central Institute of Technology, said: “The value of this partnership was two-fold, not only are our learners being equipped with the skills to plan for and evaluate AI but also to hear from the industry experts actively engaged in this cutting-edge field”. 

James Nowell, Head of School at the South Central Institute of Technology, added: “This partnership has been invaluable for our learners. We have a duty of care to ensure our learners are equipped with not only the right practical skills but the right mindset, preparing them for their career aspirations. KPMG’s program has given the learners the opportunity to question AI and consider the wider implications of its use in a variety of industries.  Having experts working with the learners means that they get the real-world case studies as well as questioning how decisions were made and why.  This gives our learners valuable insights into how their skills make them valuable to future employers. We can’t thank KPMG enough for bringing this opportunity to our learners and we look forward to rolling this out to more of our learners this year”. 

After the success of the first round of the Data and AI Ethics Programme , the next round will be delivered between January and April 2025 with plans to continue to offer this programme on an ongoing basis. There will also be further discussions between KPMG and the SCIoT teams on how this content can be adapted for other learners within the wider Milton Keynes College Group community. 

So, the future of this partnership is looking bright! Anna Clarke, Director of Employer Engagement and Partnerships at MK College Group agrees, adding that: “Our students are the employees of the future, so by working with KPMG we can provide them with teaching that reflects the real world and opportunities to gain the skills needed for when they enter the workforce. Working with partners like KPMG means that we can ensure that what we can deliver is equipping our learners with the skills for the future. By working in partnership, we can make the difference!” 

Leanne Allen, UK Head of AI at KPMG, added: “We’ve been working with MK College Group as an anchor partner since 2019 – giving its staff and learners access to our experts. When the College Group founded the SCIoT, we were keen to get involved – especially with the conversation around ethical applications of AI. 

“Having a pipeline of future talent is going to be key to making the UK an AI superpower. And education providers like MK College Group, working in partnership with industry, are going to be key to that”. 

To find out more about working with MK College Group, contact the Employer Team: employerteam@mkcollege.ac.uk  

Case Study: Lauren Dazley, 20

Stuck at a crossroads in her part-time job, Lauren began an apprenticeship through Milton Keynes College because she wanted to take a different direction in her career.

Read how she has opened the door to new opportunities with a business admin apprenticeship and learned about the importance of working for a company with a strong local focus.

Lauren’s Story

“I spent two years in sixth form and left with four A levels, then began working part-time for the following year. After that, I felt like I needed to move on, so I started looking into my options. The apprenticeship with Suez has opened my mind to other opportunities.

Suez is a global waste collection and treatment company that cleans up the streets in Milton Keynes, maintains green spaces and play areas and collects and recycles rubbish. They are very keen to strengthen local links and have a focus on sustainability, both of which really appealed to me.

My role as a business admin apprentice is varied. I get to work on the social values side of the business, too, which is a great opportunity. I also get to work directly with MK College as part of my role. One of our social value commitments is to meet a certain number of local employment opportunities, one of which is an apprenticeship with the local college.

Since I’ve come on board, we have organised a college industry day where six members of the teaching staff visited to learn more about Suez. I’ve also just had a call with the college sustainability lead. There are many opportunities for us to partner with together in the future, too, such as litter picking. I hope to build on that relationship while I’m here.”

Lauren adds, “The teachers at MK College have been so helpful and supportive. As soon as I encounter a problem, I email my questions and I get a response really quickly. I’m two months into my 18-month apprenticeship and hope to stay here when I’ve completed it.

“To anyone considering an apprenticeship, I’d definitely recommend it as a route into a career. The great thing about being an apprentice is you can start a career path while learning at the same time and it allows you to see different opportunities within the company too.”

Lauren’s advice to anyone considering apprenticeships:

“My advice would be to stay open-minded. I didn’t know what career I wanted to go into, and I’ve found a company I’d like to stay at, so it’s worth exploring all the options.”

Interested in studying an Apprenticeship like Lauren? Explore our available apprenticeships here to learn more about your options and how you can get involved.

My boss asked me if I wanted to do an apprenticeship with them, and I quickly agreed as I loved working there and knew it was what I wanted to do as a career. However, a week before my apprenticeship started, the college rang my boss and said I was better off doing a full-time course instead. I knew this wouldn’t be right for me. You need a lot of experience to become a good hairdresser and seeing clients only one day a week while doing a full-time hair course wouldn’t be the same.

Luckily, my boss was in contact with an old teacher, who helped me set up an interview with MK College who then took me on. I was also able to resit my English and Maths GCSEs, and the support from the college was great. I passed English the second time I did it, but Maths took me about five times to pass. After two years of my apprenticeship, I had finished all my hairdressing assessments and just had Maths to pass, which I thankfully managed to do last April. I am now a permanent full-time hairdresser, and I’m enjoying it a lot. It’s a really nice place as it’s a small salon with a small team, and we just get on well.

I was so pleased to be able to do my apprenticeship at MK College. They are the best college ever. They’ve been so helpful and supportive, and I know an apprenticeship was the right route for me. You need a lot of practice in a career like hairdressing, and when I was doing the Level 1 course full-time, I only saw clients once a week. I worked on a dummy head the rest of the time, and it’s just not the same. This way, I got lots of practice and got to experience both the world of work and college.”

Vanessa’s advice to anyone considering apprenticeships:

“If you’re not sure what you want to do, apprenticeships are a great way to work out what you want in life. When I kept failing my maths, there was a point I nearly gave up. Just be patient, believe in yourself, and keep going!”

Interested in studying an Apprenticeship like Vanessa? Explore our available apprenticeships here to learn more about your options and how you can get involved.

Milton Keynes College student wins at national barbering competition 

A student at Milton Keynes College has won the Best Student award at a national barbering competition.  

The Raw Talent Barbering Competition 2023 took place at the ExCel venue in London on 15^th and 16^th October at the Salon International event. Ben Pearcey, a Level 3 Barbering student, was chosen as the winner of the Student category out of six finalists. 

Before the final event and during the early stages of the competition, learners collated ideas on what hairstyle or image they wanted to achieve. The learners had free reign to do anything they wanted and use their creative flair and technical skills picked up during the course. Learners came in during the summer holidays to understand the competition requirements in further detail and put together their entries.  

Two learners from the College – Ben Pearcy and Jai-Li Rayneau – were selected as finalists for the competition and attended the Salon International event with their tutors.  

On the day of the finals, Ben and Jai-Li were tasked with setting up their model and equipment and completing their haircut and finish in just 45 minutes. The styles were then assessed by the judges, with the students answering various questions relating to the techniques used and their choice of hairstyle, with Bn Pearcy eventually announced as the winner in the Student category. 

Phil Ferrer, Barbering Lecturer at Milton Keynes College, said: “We are ecstatic that Ben won this competition. It means the world to be part of Ben’s journey and see his growth. At MK College we are passionate about supporting our learners and helping them to reach their full potential. This wouldn’t be possible without the team – not just the staff at the College but also each and every inspiring learner on the Barbering course.” 

“Competitions are important as they are the perfect way to challenge the learners and gain the recognition they deserve. At Salon International the team spirit and support from everyone was infectious, evoking energy within the crowd.” 

“Ben’s commitment and passion towards the course is truly inspiring. Ben is always the first to arrive at College and has a keen desire to learn, continually stretching and challenging himself to further his skills. I was completely blown away by Ben’s entry into the competition – you could clearly see Ben’s creativity and determination to go above and beyond for the competition. Ben is a great role model and ambassador for the course at MK College, representing and living our core values.” 

“We are so proud of Ben and every learner that joins our course. Times like these bring us so much fulfilment and this is why we love our job. Congratulations Ben, now let’s focus on the next competition! 

Ben Pearcey said: “Well first off, I would like to thank everyone involved in the organising of the competition and all the support I’ve got from my friends, family, college tutors Phil, Tonia and everyone at no1 barbers and Dean in helping me to become the barber I am today. The feeling of winning the competition is amazing and I hope to feel it many more times in the future. It’s so rewarding to get the recognition from others who are so big in the scene and great to know all my hard work is paying off.”