EKC Broadstairs College has officially opened its new Margate Digital Campus, boosting opportunities for people across Thanet.
The EKC Broadstairs College Margate Digital Campus is a state-of-the-art creative hub in Margate High Street. It has been open since January and currently has 92 students in its 16-19 provision, with plans to grow to around 200 by its third year.
It’s one strand of East Kent Colleges Group (EKC Group), which has six further education colleges in Ashford, Broadstairs, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone and Sheppey, and nine adult training centres across East Kent.
The creation of the new space forms part of Thanet council’s Regeneration Programme, which has been funded by the UK Government. The £6.3m funding was granted to create a digital and education campus with studios, gallery, café and workshops at the former M&S building.
Work started on the campus in 2025. The project includes 2,000 square metres of industry-relevant training space which aims to help future generations gain qualifications and step confidently into the creative industry as they kick start their careers.
Courses on offer include T Levels in Content Creation, Digital Production, Design and Development as well as Level 3 qualifications in Visual Effects and Animation and Illustration.
At the Campus’ launch event, guests explored the new industry standard facilities, including Kent’s second largest motion capture suite.
Speaking at the launch event, Lucy McLeod, who is the Chief Executive Officer of EKC Group, said: “It’s been fantastic to host the launch of our Margate Digital Campus, and I am incredibly proud of the partnership between EKC Group and Thanet District Council, which has brought the site to life.
“The state-of-the-art facilities showcase the exceptional equipment available to our students, alongside an innovative curriculum designed to prepare them for the future. We are very much looking forward to seeing them thrive in this inspiring new environment.”
As part of the Campus development, EKC Group has established a sector-leading partnership with Margate-based stop-motion animation studio A+C Studios, working closely with them to shape the curriculum and develop a new qualification in Animation and Illustration.
Part of the Campus is also designated to EKC Training which is EKC Group’s training provider. Adult courses in Maths, English, ICT, and short courses for those looking to get into jobs in Business Administration, Customer Service roles, Health and Social Care and Hospitality are all offered at the Campus.
The modern classrooms have been built to support adults to develop their skills and grow their skills. Breakout spaces allow students to relax and meet other adult learners in between lessons, too.
Rhona Williams, Principal of EKC Training, said: “EKC Training’s provision at the Margate Digital Campus is incredibly valuable to our adult learners and the wider community.
“The centre offers an inspiring, modern environment with excellent facilities that support learners to build confidence, develop new skills and progress into meaningful opportunities.
“It plays a key role in strengthening our local community by creating accessible pathways to learning and employment. We are proud to be part of such a vibrant and accessible space that truly makes a difference.”
MP Polly Billington also attended the launch event and said the Campus could create Thanet’s next creative legend.
“What’s so great about the Margate Digital Campus is that it shows that there is a belief in Thanet,” she said. “This is a big investment in the future of Thanet, which is our young people.
“We’ve always had a strong heritage of creativity and art that goes all the way back to JMW Turner, right up to the present day with Tracey Emin. Where are the next Turners, where are the next Tracey Emins? They could be here.”
Cllr Rick Everitt, Leader of Thanet council, added: “This is a cutting-edge facility. “We know we’ve got high youth unemployment rates, we know we need to offer training opportunities for our young people, and I think they’re going to be really excited by this space.
“We’re also hopefully going to see more people in the high street which will add to the revitalisation of the high street, too.”
Beverly Fordham, who is Kent County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, also attended the event and said the facility offers several opportunities to young people, and adults.
She said: “For me the most exciting part of this project is it’s managed to look at the whole ethos of what we’re trying to do, which is get young people highly skilled qualifications that exactly reflect what the industries need.
“It also enables those older learners who need to return to access all the facilities here. It’s an excellent digital hub for everyone.”
Does it cater for disabled people some who are in wheelchairs and what about those who have learning difficulties And so much more and why would anyone want bolly pillington there she just there for the photo shoot n nothing else
It has automatic doors and a lift that covers all the floors.
Students with learning difficulties would be supported by Learning Support Practitioners as well as The Hub and Wellbeing teams, Students also have access to Progression Mentors who are able to provide support and signpost to external services.
Polly was there as an MP of the area the Campus serves.
Less than 50% of the forecast student numbers enrolling in Year 1.
£7m of taxpayers money.
This is one to keep your eye on.
The students were existing ones at Broadstairs, they moved in year which will allow Broadstairs to use rooms etc. to increase the capacity on other courses there.
Enrolment for next year is seeing the expected increase in year 2.
Due to its location it will also get used for the community, most recently The Rotary Club used it as an art gallery highlighting school children’s art from all ages.
People will always think of other things to spend money on.
I think if £7m of taxpayers money has been spent on a project it is perfectly valid to challenge its value for money. Others have made the point before that the college group have moved courses from Broadstairs to Margate so they can rent out space at Broadstairs to generate an income for the group. That, coupled with the peppercorn rent, amount of capital spend and lower than expected student numbers is enough to keep digging away at this one.
Truth is, the “success” of this project will purely be down to the numbers of young people who achieve the relevant qualifications in Margate College and then go on to work in the industry the courses were set up to support.
LOL, who is renting space at Broadstairs?
The “lower than expected student numbers”?
Year 1 – the existing students from Broadstairs
Year 3 – 200 students
You don’t care about success you are just here for the moan.
Amazing a Polly appearance, but then it is a photo opportunity. People would have more respect for this MP, if she did her job, which is representing the electorate at Westminster. I appreciate Polly understands she will lose the seat when the general election arrives. But that’s no excuse for treading water and claiming all she can while on the gravy train. Taxpayer deserve better than this truly poor example of an MP. I do not say this because Polly is Labour, I would say this whatever party she claimed to represent!
Didn’t they get the building on a peppercorn rate????. Now it’s said students moving across from Broadstairs so freeing up rooms there to take more students. So they’re making money and TDC gets peanuts and the taxpayers gets hit again
It is an FE College, it doesn’t make a profit.
Scrap all these so called ‘creative’ courses. They are a total waste of our money and the time spent by artless students gaining (if extremely lucky) worthless qualifications they lead precisely nowhere. If I want to see third-rate art I can visit any primary school art class.
Try offering courses in plumbing, bricklaying, electrical installation, carpentry where a qualification might actually lead to paid work and a career.
‘The students can step confidently into the creative industry’ as they kick start their careers as long-term welfare claimants.
EKC Group offer all those courses, of the ones you list only Bricklaying is absent at Broadstairs but is available at Dover. Broadstairs also does Auto, Engineering and P&D if you are only concentrating on “trades”.
Creative Industries = £123 billion into the economy every year.