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Our Legacy
Local wood panel manufacturer MEDITE SMARTPLY was delighted to provide North Kent College students with MDF products for a special Remembrance Day project.
Students studying Carpentry and Joinery, Painting and Decorating and Multitrade qualifications at the College’s Gravesend campus, have been working together to produce silhouettes of soldiers ready to stand outside the College’s four campuses, in Dartford, Gravesend, Hadlow and Tonbridge, over Remembrance Day weekend.
The idea was the brainchild of Dan Hopkins, Lecturer in Carpentry and Joinery at the College, who explained more: “I have an ex-forces background, so I wanted to play my part in celebrating Remembrance Day. Our Carpentry students will get some first-hand practice using power tools to cut the silhouettes, and they will then be passed on to painting and decorating students to give them a coat of paint before they will be handed to each campus.”
Engineered wood panel manufacturer MEDITE SMARTPLY, whose Commercial Head Office is in Dartford, has recently partnered with North Kent College and this is one of the projects that the company will be supporting throughout the year.
“It’s a great project to be involved with and seeing how our MDF products will be used in such a creative way,” added Rebecca Goldsmith, Product Manager at MEDITE SMARTPLY. “We look forward to seeing the finished pieces at each campus!”
As well as donating products to the college, MEDITE SMARTPLY will be sharing its knowledge through a series of seminars on how wood panel products can be used in modern building design, helping to reduce the environmental impact of new buildings.
“We are keen to support initiatives that encourage new entrants to the construction trades,” continues Rebecca, “and we hope that our ongoing contact with the college will provide a constructive link between business and education.”
North Kent College runs a number of construction courses, based at the Gravesend campus.
The campus includes dedicated facilities for Brickwork, Painting and Decorating, Carpentry and Multitrades, and all courses are delivered in workshop environments that replicate the experience of working in the chosen industry.
The college has strong links with local employers, businesses and trade outlets, and a great record for getting students on to apprenticeships with reputable companies.
