Accrington & Rossendale College (ARC), part of the East Lancashire Learning Group (ELLG), recently welcomed the team from Hyndburn Leisure to its Employer Innovation Hub for a special student recruitment and selection day.
The event provided Hyndburn Leisure with direct access to a pool of motivated candidates across disciplines such as sport, marketing, digital, childcare, and more. The day proved fruitful, with multiple students securing a work placement offer.
In preparation for the event, ARC’s Business Development team ran employer readiness sessions to help students build their confidence, sharpen their skills, and develop a professional approach. These sessions ensured students were well-prepared to meet employer expectations and showcase their potential as valuable additions to the workplace.
Nicola Hall, Director for Curriculum Innovation & Partnerships at ELLG, said:
“Events like this are exactly what employer partnership should look like in practice. Our students don’t just get to hear about opportunities, they get to go for them, on their own campus, with real employers. For Hyndburn Leisure, it also means access to some of the most motivated and well-prepared young people in the country, coming through a college that sets the standard nationally for further education.”
Taylor Morris, a business student at ARC who secured a work placement offer at the event, said:
“I was nervous going in but the prep sessions we did beforehand really helped, like I actually knew what to say. When I received an offer, I was really excited. I feel like it’s all paid off straight away.”
Reflecting on the day Lyndsey Sims, Hyndburn Leisure CEO, said:
“Hyndburn Leisure is delighted to be working with ELLG to provide meaningful placement opportunities for their learners. As a proud local employer, we are passionate about supporting young people to gain valuable experience, build confidence, and develop skills for the future.
With over half of our workforce aged 16–25, we understand the importance of creating opportunities that help young people take their first steps into employment.”
Lyndsey Sims also serves on ARC’s industry board, a model that places employer insight at the heart of curriculum design. This alignment equips ARC students with industry-relevant skills, enabling them to make an impact in the workplace from day one.
It follows ELLG’s recent confirmation as the number one general further education college group in the country in the National Achievement Rate Tables, with learners achieving higher levels of attainment and making more progress than anywhere else in England.
