AoC National Colleges Week 2026 – Skills for All

East Sussex College is proud to once again support the AoC’s National Colleges Week, a national campaign celebrating the vital role colleges play in transforming lives, strengthening communities and developing the skills our economy needs.

National Colleges Week 2026 will showcase the brilliant work colleges do every day to support learners of all ages and backgrounds. From young people starting their journey, to adults retraining for new careers, and apprentices developing skills in the workplace, colleges open doors and create opportunities for everyone.

This year’s theme, Skills for All, reflects the breadth and impact of further education and highlights how colleges equip people from all walks of life with the education, training and skills they need to succeed.

Each day throughout the week will focus on a different group of learners, celebrating the diverse routes into education and employment that colleges provide:

• Adult learners returning to education, including career changers and lifelong learners, and the power of flexible, community-focused learning
• Young people developing vocational and academic skills, building confidence and working towards their future goals
• Apprentices of all ages, bringing skills to life in the workplace alongside learning in the classroom, supported by committed employers
• Degree students gaining technical and academic qualifications at Level 4 and above (and now up to Level 7 in Hastings!) through local, flexible and career-focused courses
• College communities and partnerships, highlighting the relationships that support learners both within colleges and beyond the campus gates

East Sussex College will be sharing success stories throughout Colleges Week, showcasing learners, staff, apprentices, employers and partners who together demonstrate the power of skills for all.

“We’re really proud to support AoC’s National Colleges Week and the powerful message of Skills for All,” said Rebecca Conroy, CEO and Principal of East Sussex College. “Every day, our students and staff demonstrate the life-changing impact of further and higher education, whether that’s helping young people take their first steps towards a career, supporting adults to retrain, or working with employers to develop the skills our communities need. Colleges play a crucial role in creating opportunity, and this week is an important chance to celebrate that impact.”

Follow along and join the conversation throughout the week on social media using #CollegesWeek2026 and #LoveOurColleges to see how we’re celebrating skills, opportunity and success across our college community.