Hartpury College welcomed 30 sport, outdoor activities and uniformed protective services industry professionals to a recent Industry Curriculum Co-Creation Event.

The event provided an opportunity for academic staff and industry specialists to discuss how the college can further enhance its teaching and course content to best prepare students for positive progression.

Industry experts had the chance to explore the academic content planned for a range of Hartpury College courses, and to provide feedback that will help to inform and shape curriculum and assessment design.

This is the latest initiative designed to ensure Hartpury courses are industry-aligned, preparing students to best meet the needs of employers. Events like these will help to keep course content relevant and help to address skills gaps in Gloucestershire and beyond.

Similar events have taken place across Hartpury's other subject areas of agriculture, equine and animal management.

Claire Whitworth, deputy principal of Hartpury College, said: "It's essential that industry informs the skills, needs and attributes required by our students now and in the future.

"Ultimately, we strive to ensure our students are equipped to really make a difference to the companies they'll work for. The best way to do this is by ensuring employers have the opportunity to partner with us to shape our offer. We are very grateful for the time that they've given to support Hartpury College and the future workforce."

Michael Tambling, head of sport, outdoor adventure and uniformed public services at Hartpury College, said: "The event provided the academic team with an amazing opportunity to discuss all elements of our study programmes with those directly involved with the industry. Exciting opportunities and potential collaborations have once again evolved from this event and we're very much looking forward to implementing them into our curriculum design, delivery and assessment for the coming year.

"I'd like to thank all who attended for their industry expertise shared with our staff. "

Toby Holder, sport and physical activity skills hub manager for the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), said: "Having the opportunity for local employers to not just engage with, but also have influence on the content being taught, will help support a clear pathway from education into local employment within Gloucestershire.

"This event was a great starting point to begin addressing skill gaps within the sport and physical activity sector and finding ways to address them through the next cohort of practitioners. CIMSPA will be working closely alongside Hartpury to continue engaging with employers, identifying skill gaps and developing a skills strategy for sport and physical activity within Gloucestershire."

Post-event feedback revealed that 100% of attendees agreed they had 'positively impacted at least one study programme during the event' and confirmed they 'would be willing to contribute towards co-delivery and/ or co-assessment'.