Waltham Forest College Employer Event Boosts Skills Growth

Key Points

• Waltham Forest College hosted an Employer Breakfast Event, welcoming employers from across the region to strengthen collaboration on skills development, apprenticeships, and future workforce needs.​
• The event featured structured networking over breakfast, allowing employers to engage with senior leaders and managers to build strategic partnerships.​
• Janet Gardner OBE, Principal and CEO of Waltham Forest College, opened the event, reaffirming the College’s commitment to employer-led collaboration, skills development, and contributions to local, regional, and national economic growth.​
• Janet Gardner OBE stated: “Our Employer Breakfast Event is about listening to employers and working together to continue to shape skills provision that meets current workforce needs. Strong collaboration with industry is essential to creating opportunities for learners and supporting local and regional economic growth.”​
• Employers participated in a curriculum round-table discussion to identify current and emerging skills priorities, informing curriculum development aligned to local, regional, and national labour market needs, with focus on skills gaps, productivity, and workforce sustainability.​
• Workshops highlighted apprenticeships’ role in driving business growth, developing skilled workforces, supporting succession planning, improving staff retention, and aligning with the government’s Skills for Jobs White Paper to address skills shortages and promote sustainable economic growth across Britain.​
• Russell Gewitzke, Local Director at NatWest, said: “The Employer Breakfast Event was an excellent event and provided a valuable opportunity to connect with a wide range of business partners working in collaboration with the College. The curriculum team was highly impressive, the facilities are outstanding, and we look forward to further collaboration with the College.”​
• Nicola Hollands, Head of Partnerships, Skills and Training of CEME, said: “Events such as the Employer Breakfast are vital in bringing education and industry together to address skills needs and support long-term economic growth. Strong partnerships with colleges like Waltham Forest College enable us to co-design training and skills solutions that respond directly to employer demand, support workforce development and create meaningful opportunities for learners and businesses alike.”​
• The event showcased the College’s recently launched Business Growth Hub, in partnership with Grow London Local, designed to support local micro-businesses and SMEs to start up, scale, and innovate, providing office and conference facilities, specialist business support, and expert advice from Grow London Local, part of London & Partners.
• Support from the Business Growth Hub ranges from helping entrepreneurs turn ideas into viable businesses to enabling early-stage enterprises and established SMEs to grow and thrive.
• Artemisa, Independent Travel Agent and Consultant, said: “I specialise in supporting women to build their own businesses, and I attended this event to network and engage with other organisations. The discussions were extremely valuable, particularly in relation to the College’s new Business Growth Hub, which offers clear opportunities for collaboration and enterprise support. I was able to exchange contacts with several attendees and look forward to the possibility of working with Waltham Forest College to support business growth in the local community.”​
• Robin, Founder of Catalyst in Communities (CIC), said: “Young people in London can face a complex range of challenges, including social exclusion and limited access to creative and enterprise opportunities. As a Waltham Forest–based organisation founded 15 years ago, Catalyst in Communities is committed to supporting young people to build confidence, develop employability and enterprise skills, and access positive pathways into education, training and work. I was particularly impressed by Waltham Forest College’s strong mission and its commitment to working with employers and community partners to improve outcomes for young people locally, and would highly recommend the College and events like this.”​
• The event concluded with further networking for ongoing discussions and partnership exploration.​
• Related coverage notes the Business Growth Hub launch involved an Employer Networking Breakfast, with Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Growth, stating: “London’s one million small businesses are the backbone of our economy, employ 54 per cent of Londoners and will be at the heart of our new Growth Plan. I was delighted to join a fantastic group of businesses at Waltham Forest College for the launch of its new Business and Enterprise Hub, which will support local micro-businesses and SMEs to access the right skills for their enterprises and help Londoners into good work. This partnership between City Hall, London and Partners, and Waltham Forest College is a part of the Mayor’s mission to help grow London’s economy and create a better, more prosperous city for everyone.”​
• Michael Morley, Group Director at the Department for Work and Pensions, shared insights on the College’s strategic partnership with DWP supporting local people into sustainable employment in shortage areas during the Hub launch.​
• Dr Amanjit Jhund, CEO of Whipps Cross Hospital, discussed the new partnership with Barts Health NHS Trust for a Life Sciences Hub at the College to support NHS specialist skills and promote life sciences and entrepreneurship.​

Waltham Forest, London (East London Times) February 3, 2026 – Waltham Forest College has bolstered its partnerships with local and national employers through a pivotal Employer Breakfast Event, aimed at aligning skills training with economic demands.​

What Happened at the Employer Breakfast Event?

The gathering united business leaders and College executives to foster ties in skills provision and apprenticeships. Structured breakfast networking kicked off proceedings, paving the way for deeper strategic alliances. As reported in the official College announcement on its website, the event underscored a proactive approach to workforce readiness.​

Janet Gardner OBE, Principal and CEO, launched the proceedings, highlighting the institution’s dedication to industry collaboration for economic upliftment. Employers delved into round-table talks on skills priorities, tackling gaps and boosting productivity. Workshops illuminated apprenticeships’ value, echoing the Skills for Jobs White Paper’s emphasis on employer-driven training.

Who Opened the Event and What Did They Say?

Janet Gardner OBE formally commenced the event. She reaffirmed the College’s role in local, regional, and national growth via skills initiatives. According to the Waltham Forest College news release, Janet Gardner OBE said:

“Our Employer Breakfast Event is about listening to employers and working together to continue to shape skills provision that meets current workforce needs. Strong collaboration with industry is essential to creating opportunities for learners and supporting local and regional economic growth.”​

This statement, directly quoted from the College’s coverage, reflects a listener-first ethos. Her leadership, honoured with an OBE for services to further education, has elevated the College to outstanding Ofsted status.

What Skills Were Discussed in the Round-Tables?

Participants pinpointed current and future skills needs to refine the curriculum for labour markets. Focus areas included bridging skills shortages, enhancing productivity, and securing sustainable workforces. These exchanges, as detailed in the event summary, ensure alignment with employer realities.​

Such dialogues mirror broader efforts, like the College’s Sector-based Work Academy Programmes with Jobcentre Plus, yielding 97% employment progression in rail sectors.​

How Do Apprenticeships Support Business Growth?

Sessions showcased apprenticeships for talent development, succession, and retention. They tie into national policy for high-quality training against shortages. The College’s page emphasises their contribution to Britain’s economic sustainability.

What Did Employers Say About the Event?

Russell Gewitzke, Local Director at NatWest, praised the platform:

“The Employer Breakfast Event was an excellent event and provided a valuable opportunity to connect with a wide range of business partners working in collaboration with the College. The curriculum team was highly impressive, the facilities are outstanding, and we look forward to further collaboration with the College.”​

Nicola Hollands, Head of Partnerships, Skills and Training at CEME, noted:

“Events such as the Employer Breakfast are vital in bringing education and industry together to address skills needs and support long-term economic growth. Strong partnerships with colleges like Waltham Forest College enable us to co-design training and skills solutions that respond directly to employer demand, support workforce development and create meaningful opportunities for learners and businesses alike.”​

These testimonials, sourced from the official report, highlight the event’s networking prowess.​

What Is the New Business Growth Hub?

The Hub, partnered with Grow London Local (London & Partners), aids micro-businesses and SMEs in startup, scaling, and innovation. It offers office spaces, conferences, and tailored advice from idea to expansion.

As per Waltham Forest College’s launch coverage, it drives community economic support. Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor, attended the launch:

“I was delighted to join a fantastic group of businesses at Waltham Forest College for the launch of its new Business and Enterprise Hub, which will support local micro-businesses and SMEs to access the right skills for their enterprises and help Londoners into good work.”​

How Did Attendees Respond to the Business Growth Hub?

Artemisa, Independent Travel Agent and Consultant, valued the networking:

“I specialise in supporting women to build their own businesses, and I attended this event to network and engage with other organisations. The discussions were extremely valuable, particularly in relation to the College’s new Business Growth Hub, which offers clear opportunities for collaboration and enterprise support. I was able to exchange contacts with several attendees and look forward to the possibility of working with Waltham Forest College to support business growth in the local community.”​

Robin, Founder of Catalyst in Communities (CIC), commended youth focus:

“Young people in London can face a complex range of challenges, including social exclusion and limited access to creative and enterprise opportunities. As a Waltham Forest–based organisation founded 15 years ago, Catalyst in Communities is committed to supporting young people to build confidence, develop employability and enterprise skills, and access positive pathways into education, training and work. I was particularly impressed by Waltham Forest College’s strong mission and its commitment to working with employers and community partners to improve outcomes for young people locally, and would highly recommend the College and events like this.”​

What Other Partnerships Were Highlighted?

The Hub launch featured Michael Morley, Group Director at DWP, on employment support in shortages. Dr Amanjit Jhund, CEO of Whipps Cross Hospital, spotlighted the Life Sciences Hub with Barts Health NHS Trust for NHS skills.​

Janet Gardner added at launch:

“We are committed to shaping the future economy by equipping students and local communities with the skills that employers need. We are pleased to collaborate with Grow London Local, helping to support businesses within our diverse local communities to start-up, access support and opportunities for growth, collaboration, and innovation, helping us meet workforce demands that supports London’s economic growth.”

How Did the Event Conclude?

Further networking capped the day, nurturing future collaborations. This follows patterns in College initiatives, like open events and skills bootcamps.

The College invites employer involvement via direct contact. Such events position Waltham Forest College as a skills cornerstone, fostering inclusive growth amid London’s economic ambitions.