Trailblazing Search For Former MidKent College Students
Patrons of the Chamber MidKent College’s search for former students has so far reached the Highlands of Scotland and Western Australia. The oldest person who’s been in touch is just 96 years old and the youngest left the college only a year ago. During the launch of MidKent College’s alumni network, one former student has even found a new job – back at the College.
The ‘alumni’ name comes from the Latin for a former student and alumni organisations have featured in universities for more than 200 years to support current students but they have never been tried successfully in further education in the UK.
Chris Hare, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of MidKent College said: ‘Building alumni engagement in further education is notoriously difficult. Most colleges lack the systems, resources, and long-term focus needed to keep in touch with former students once they move on to work or higher study. Very few have made it work at scale. We saw that as an opportunity.’
MidKent College recruited a part time Alumni Development Officer, Jo Wilkins, who is building a simple user-friendly process for former students to register and re-connect. In her work, she has been introduced to hundreds of former students, each keen to continue to work with the college.
Jo said: ‘We had 100 people contact us in the first 24 hours. There have been amazing stories, from the 96-year-old grandfather who went to the former Technical College that was then based in Gardiner Street, Gillingham, to two young women who work in construction who only left college last year. It has been a powerful start.’
Among the alumni stories Jo Wilkins has discovered is that of Tony Millership, 96, who now lives in Ballater 40 miles from Aberdeen. ‘I went to college after the City and County Grammar School where I recall a whole class being flogged for leaving a teacher in tears. I studied engineering at degree level at MidKent College, was a good student and graduated before my 19th birthday.”
The furthest alumni found so far is Daryll Holland who is now based in Perth in Australia. In common with several students, he began studying one subject then diverted and has had an amazing career in a different field. “I studied IT after I heard good things about the subject, which was very different then. I ended up moving to Australis, being promoted to head up their company in Europe before going back to Australia again. For current students I’d say the most important benefit is lecturers with industry experience, get all the knowledge from them that you can and use it.”
Callum Norris, 27, from Rochester, is starting 2026 with a new job as a ESports lecturer at the college after contacting the Alumni network. Jo Wilkins then sent the ESports team his details. “They called me to ask if I wanted a job. I applied not thinking I’d get it but the next thing you know they called saying Welcome. I’ve been to professional levels in gaming. I want to make a change and show people what they could be in the racing world.”
Another alumnus who got in touch with the college again is Jack Ferris, 28, a Senior Marketing Artist, from Strood, who studied art and graphic design at Midkent College. He said: “I saw about the Alumni group on LinkedIn and enjoy chatting with current students about how they can do what they put their mind to. There are courses but I can guide people and give a bit of what I know back to the upcoming students.”
Most recent college leavers who have signed up are Sydney Miller and Sophie Brindley. Both studied T Level Construction and both now work for the Gallagher Group. Both follow a family tradition in construction, being taken to work with their dads from childhood. They were the only females on their course, and none of their other friends left school for a college education.
Sophie said: “We just enjoy giving back to people and trying to inspire people because I think when we joined college, we had no one to look up to, no inspiration. So we can show other students how important construction is and how many different avenues you can go down.”
Chris Hare says: ‘Our alumni campaign aims to build recognition and pride in MidKent College among former students, to inspire the next generation. It sets out to reconnect with our history and celebrate the impact of Further Education in transforming lives. We believe that a thriving alumni network brings real benefits for our current students in helping to raise aspirations, showcase diverse career journeys, and reinforce the life-changing value of FE.’ Other colleges have now contacted MidKent College to find out how they too can develop similar networks.’