East Surrey College

East Surrey College in Redhill, Surrey, is a leading further education provider, offering full-time and part-time courses, apprenticeships and university-level programmes to students across the region. The college is part of Orbital South Colleges, which includes John Ruskin College, and plays an important role in preparing young people for modern careers. Averma was invited to support their Digital T Level programme as an industry placement partner, delivering a course designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world digital practice.

T Levels are new technical qualifications developed in collaboration with employers. They are designed to give students a blend of classroom-based learning and practical experience, with a strong focus on employability. Each T Level is a two-year course equivalent to three A Levels and includes an extended industry placement. The Digital Support Services T Level gives students an in-depth understanding of IT systems, infrastructure, support and cybersecurity; while building their confidence in project delivery and problem solving in a workplace context.

Our role was to design and deliver a bespoke course for T Level students specialising in Digital Services. The course was shaped around what students need to know to succeed in a real digital environment. It covered everything from the foundations of web development and content management systems, to search engine optimisation, basic user experience principles and digital project workflows.

The course combined lectures, practical workshops and collaborative projects. Students worked in small groups to plan and deliver components of a digital project, including structuring content, identifying user needs and presenting their ideas to peers and tutors. Throughout the course, we placed a strong emphasis on critical thinking, collaboration and communication; core skills for any digital role.

Sessions were delivered directly by Averma’s team, giving students direct access to working professionals with current industry experience. We introduced real-life project scenarios, taught key concepts around briefing, feedback, revision and helped students understand the roles involved in running a successful digital project; from strategy through to delivery.

This hands-on experience gave students the opportunity to apply what they’d learned in class to realistic challenges, while gaining insights into how digital agencies operate. The placement was designed to help them become more confident and better prepared for employment or further training.

We’re proud to have supported East Surrey College in shaping a practical, industry-relevant learning experience. Our main hub is in Horley, Surrey; just a short distance from the Redhill campus; which made in-person delivery easy and accessible. We continue to work with organisations and educators who want to make digital careers more accessible and relevant to young people entering the industry.