As the year closes we wanted to share and celebrate the best of ESC. Our students, alumni and staff have been working hard in and outside college to achieve great successes we are so proud of.
Before we start our round up, thank you again for your continued support over the past year, promoting our post 16 events to your students and their parents.
We look forward to working with you in the New Year and would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your colleagues a very merry Christmas and festive break.
XXXX to be added Monday, an East Sussex College alumnus, has been honoured with a place in the Association of Colleges’ prestigious FE Hall of Fame. This recognition celebrates alumni who make exceptional contributions to their communities and beyond. Each year, just three alumni are chosen from dozens of entries from colleges across the country.
xxxx, now an MP for xxx, joins renowned figures such as Michelin-starred chef Michael Caines MBE, singer and West End star Shaun Escoffery and rugby legend Kevin Sinfield.
Link available Monday afternoon.
Performing Arts alumnus, Charlie Suff, has joined the cast of EastEnders as Johnny Carter, Danny Dyers son.
Following his new role, Charlie caught up with the College to speak about his time at East Sussex College and his development throughout his Performing Arts course.
“ESC was a fantastic starting point for me in this industry,” said Charlie. “The calibre of teaching there and the quality of the training are so rare to come by at Key Stage 5. The commitment at ESC to helping young actors prepare for drama school was so important for me being able to take that next step in my early career. I couldn’t have done it without the help of the college!
Tommy won this prestigious title at the Foodservice Australia exhibition, the country’s top hospitality trade show. Competing against some of the best chefs, Tommy’s skills and creativity stood out, earning him this incredible honour. His journey started at East Sussex College, where he developed his passion and talent for cooking.
After studying at East Sussex College, Tommy trained at top places like the Michelin-starred Gravetye Manor in Sussex and the famous Waterside Inn with Michel Roux. Tommy also trained in the classics under the legendary Michel Roux at the Roux Brothers’ renowned Waterside Inn, joining a lineage that includes Gordon Ramsay, Marco Pierre White, and Australia’s own Luke Mangan.
He then moved to Australia, where he quickly became a standout in the food scene. His work at popular spots like Hobba in Melbourne and Single O in Sydney has been widely praised.
Tommy built strong foundations under Head lecturers Ron Lee and Ken Ellis. Tommy credits much of his success to his time at East Sussex College, especially the support from mentors like Chef Ken Ellis. "I wouldn't have won the awards, tested myself, cooked at the highest standard of 3 Michelin stars, or become the National Champion Australian Professional Chef Of The Year 2024 if it wasn't for Ken Ellis's mentorship, advice, and constant encouragement and the strong foundation I learnt at Sussex Downs College [now East Sussex College]."
Tommy returned to the college in October to share his remarkable journey and support Hospitality and Catering students in a 90 minute workshop.
Ella Hebron, a Sport & Exercise Science alumna, has made history as the youngest first mate in the Clipper Round the World Race 2023/24. Representing the Ha Long Bay team, Ella’s journey is a testament to determination and passion.
Ella studied Sport & Exercise Science at ESC’s Eastbourne campus until 2022, and since leaving college she has pursued her passion for sailing.
Speaking about when she first signed up to the Clipper Race, Ella said, “I signed up as a crew member on the Clipper Race shortly after turning 16. The year delay due to COVID enabled me to develop my sailing experience and qualifications and I was employed to be a first mate on the Clipper Race 2023-2024. Each yacht has two professional paid sailors (skipper and first mate) and 16-20 paying crew. There are eight legs stopping in Uruguay, South Africa, Australia, China and America. Smaller races mean there are stops in other destinations.
Tallulah Martinez, a Year 1 UAL Level 3 Games Art & Animation student at East Sussex College's Hastings campus, has been named the winner of the BAFTA Young Game Designer of the Year Award 2024 for their entry in the Game Concept category.
As part of their Unit 3 studies, all Year 1 students take part in the competition, which challenges them to come up with an original idea for a PEGI 12 (or younger) rated game. Tallulah’s winning concept, The Whispering Wilds, took the Game Concept Award for the 15-18 age group.
Tallulah spoke to the College about how it felt to win such a prestigious award and mentioned the impact of her tutors throughout the process. “Winning the YGD Bafta for Game Concepts felt unreal, it's been an amazing experience and taught me a lot about the games industry.
“I have to thank my tutors Simon and Richard without whom I would never have discovered the YGD Bafta awards. They both helped me so much in sculpting my idea and bringing it to the bafta stage. I don't think I could have won without the tutelage of Richard, who helped me immensely in structuring and realising my ideas.”
Emily Milton, a Musical Theatre student at ESC, became the youngest contestant, at 16 years old, to reach the blind auditions of The Voice. Emily’s talent shone brightly, earning her a place on the national stage.
Emily's journey began with numerous auditions, each one a stepping stone toward her dream of performing in front of some of the biggest names in the music industry. Filmed back in February, Emily took to the stage with confidence and talent, singing her heart out for a star-studded panel of coaches, including Tom Fletcher, Danny Jones from McFly, Will.i.am, Sir Tom Jones, and LeAnn Rimes.
Illustration alumnus Tim McDonagh has worked on major projects with brands like Star Wars, Nike, and Apple. Tim attributes his success to the solid foundation and mentorship he received during his time at ESC.
“The course provided me with a fantastic grounding in art and design, and then after recognising my interest in illustration, [my tutors] nurtured that and were paramount in preparing me for university and beyond,” said Tim.
During his university studies, Tim won the prestigious D&AD New Blood Award. This recognition opened doors to commissions and led to him being signed by the Handsome Frank Illustration Agency, where he continues to work today.
ESC Lewes students showcased their creativity in the Royal Opera House Design Challenge 2024.
The event showcased the creative prowess of ESC students, a tradition upheld with remarkable success. Once again, in 2024, they demonstrated their ingenuity, continuing their winning streak at this esteemed competition.
RAE WATT, AN ART & DESIGN EXTENDED DIPLOMA STUDENT, WON SET DESIGN.
FOLLY STANLEY, ALSO AN ART & DESIGN EXTENDED DIPLOMA STUDENT, WAS HIGHLY COMMENDED FOR SET DESIGN.
AMY MACKINTOSH, ART & DESIGN EXTENDED DIPLOMA STUDENT, AND TIA EWEN, ANIMATION & ILLUSTRATION STUDENT, WERE COMMENDED FOR MARKETING STRATEGY AND DESIGN.
The achievements of these talented students underscore the exceptional calibre of creativity fostered at East Sussex College. All of the winners and highly commended students will be invited up to the Royal Opera House to attend an industry-insight experience and collect their well-deserved awards.
Dominic Hayles, East Sussex College alumnus, has carved out a thriving career as a videographer, drone operator, and creator of DoMoreMedia, amassing over 100k followers on Instagram. Dominic's path, however, started in a completely different field: sports and personal training.
His time at East Sussex College helped him discover new passions and build the skills that have propelled his career.
Dominic studied Level 3 Sports and Personal Training at ESC, and credits his years at the College with giving him the confidence to explore new interests. “Through the years of studying, I was able to learn more about myself and what I enjoy doing the most. The friendships I built and the teachers I had gave me a great support network to try things that were new and exciting,” Dominic said.
Even after graduating, Dominic stayed in touch with some of his tutors, especially from the sports department. He recalls the support they offered, explaining that they encouraged him to take risks and pursue his growing interest in media. He said, “The tutors were great, very supportive and I am still in touch with some of the sports department.”
After starting a personal training business, Dominic's career took an unexpected turn when he picked up a camera to create content for his business. That decision eventually led to the birth of DoMoreMedia, a creative agency that now works with major brands like DJI and Mountain Warehouse.
East Sussex College Performing Arts Alumna, Amita Suman, starred in both series of Netflix’s Shadow & Bone as Inej Ghafa. After college, Amita furthered her studies at The Academy of Live & Recorded Arts, and her career in acting has since flourished. Her incredible success in the industry has led to the renaming of the multi-purpose hall at the Lewes campus to 'The Suman Hall,' inspiring both current and future ESC students.
If you have any questions or would like to find out more about our events please get in touch with our School Liaison team.
Email: schoolsandevents@escg.ac.uk
Tel: 030 300 39300
Guy Buckland (Marketing & Communications Manager)
Leanne Lane (Recruitment Events Coordinator)
Malachy Borrett (School Liaison Officer - Eastbourne) Maternity Cover until 2025/26
Lucy Dale (School Liaison Officer - Hastings)
Nigel Ryan (School Liaison Officer - Lewes)