Teacher Encounters with Surrey businesses to highlight future opportunities

Published September 25, 2025

News

Teacher Encounters returns to Surrey for 2025. It sees teachers become students for the day visiting some of Surrey’s brightest and best businesses as part of broader efforts to inspire the region’s future workforce

As this academic year begins to draw to a close, a number of schools, special schools, and colleges across Surrey are taking part in Surrey Careers Hub’s 2025 Teacher Encounters initiative.

This dynamic series of workplace visits connects educators with leading Surrey employers. It has seen enthusiastic participation from teachers across a wide range of Surrey educational settings across the county, helping to bridge the gap between education and the world of work. (See full list of participating institutions below.)

These educators are taking up the opportunity to visit and engage with a diverse range of Surrey employers, including Wates Group, Royal Holloway University, CGI, Supermassive Games, Home Counties Carers, AtkinsRéalis, Yunex Traffic, ramsac, Macro and Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust.

What’s involved in a Teacher Encounter?

The visits offer valuable insights into the skills, knowledge, and attributes that employers are seeking in the future workforce. It helps educators to understand the wide range of career opportunities available and gain a deeper understanding of how their subject is applied practically in the workplace.

They can take this back to their classrooms to enrich their curriculum with real-world industry examples, while enabling them to build ongoing relationships with employers.

Following each Teacher Encounter, participating teachers will develop bespoke teaching resources that will translate newly acquired industry knowledge into practical classroom applications or resources to share with their teaching colleagues. The initiative aims to produce a diverse and inclusive suite of materials, tailored to a wide range of subjects and adaptable to the needs of students from all types of institutions.

Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth at Surrey County Council, praised the initiative:

“The Teachers Encounters programme is a vital investment in the future of Surrey’s economy. By equipping our teachers with up-to-date industry knowledge and meaningful employer connections, we empower them to better guide their students in making informed career choices. This initiative not only benefits our young people but also strengthens the talent pipeline for local businesses, ensuring Surrey remains a thriving hub of innovation and opportunity.”

Views from Teacher Encounters participants

Tim Browning, Recruitment Lead at Supermassive Games said:

“This programme is a fantastic way to bridge the gap between education and industry. Equipping teachers with industry knowledge is crucial for inspiring and preparing students for their future careers. We’re already looking forward to next year’s programme!”

Ellie Smith, AtkinsRéalis Social Value Consultant shared:

“The Teacher Encounter programme highlights the importance of collaboration between educators and industry professionals in shaping a skilled workforce and AtkinsRéalis is proud to have taken part.”

A delighted teacher from East Surrey College added:

“It was both enlightening and informative to hear about the company’s early careers programme. The insights and perspectives shared will undoubtedly be incredibly valuable for our students as they look to progress into their careers after completing their college studies.”

The programme is part of Surrey Careers Hub’s ongoing commitment to enhancing careers education and ensuring that young people are well-prepared for the rapidly evolving world of work.

By fostering stronger links between education and industry, the Careers Hub is helping to create a more informed, inspired, and future-ready generation.

Find out more

Read more about the Teacher Encounters programme on the Surrey County Council website
Surrey employers can get involved in the 2026 Teacher Encounters programme by contacting careers.hub@surreycc.gov.uk.
Get updates on the Teacher Encounters programme and other Surrey Careers Hub activity by following us on LinkedIn
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Surrey schools and colleges taking part in 2025 Teacher Encounters

Ashcombe School
Brooklands College
Carrington School
Collingwood College
East Surrey College
Epsom College
Esher Sixth Form College
Fox Grove School
Freemantles School
George Abbot School
Godalming College
Guildford County School
Heathside School
Hoe Valley School
Nescot
Pond Meadow School
Reigate College
Rosebery School
St Pauls Catholic College
The Beacon School
Therfield School
Thomas Knyvett College
Warlingham School
Wishmore Cross Academy
Woking College

A group of professional people wearing teal lanyards stand in an office smiling at the camera.

Transitions Fair highlights opportunities for young people with additional needs and disabilities

Published September 16, 2025

Events

The Transitions Fair welcomed over 200 young people with additional needs and disabilities to Surrey County Council’s Woodhatch Place in Reigate to explore future opportunities. It was created by Surrey Careers Hub as part of National Careers Week.

This event was specifically created for young people educated in specialist schools and alternative provision. It helped them understand the options available for their transition from education to employment, further education, training or social settings.

The event saw enthusiastic participation from 12 Surrey schools, bringing together over 200 students.

The event was supported by over 20 exhibitors. This includes colleges and educators, employers, employment support organisations, apprenticeship providers and social settings. All offering valuable guidance and information to the young people in attendance.

Surrey Careers Hub also partnered with Macro staff employed on the council’s facilities management contract to showcase to students the people and the jobs that keep Woodhatch Place a safe, welcoming and accessible working environment.

Learn more about opportunities in Surrey via our Inspire section.

Transitions Fair – why it matters

Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport, and Economic Growth, attended the event to meet with students and exhibitors. He shared his positive reflections:

“The Transitions Fair is a testament to our commitment to ensuring that every young person in Surrey, regardless of their educational needs, has access to the resources and support they need to succeed, with no one left behind. It was inspiring to see so many young people engaging with the exhibitors and exploring the range of options for their future.”

Clare Curran, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning said: “This Transitions Fair, and the work of the Surrey Careers Hub in general, is so important in helping to ensure Surrey children and young people with additional needs and disabilities are informed about the range of opportunities available for them as they head towards adulthood. I’m sure those attending left feeling inspired about their futures.”

A teacher attending said: “The fair was well organised, quieter and catered well to the needs of our students. The short film [about Macro staff] was brilliant and extremely engaging. All my students loved it and felt a sense of empowerment that they too can go and work for Surrey County Council in all different departments.”

Students were highly engaged and appreciated the opportunity to meet exhibitors. One commented: “Orpheus has amazing music program, flats on campus and help with getting houses once you’ve left. Sounds amazing.”

While another said: “I loved talking to the ‘Project Radio’ people and this is something where I can see myself going.”

About Surrey Careers Hub

The Surrey Careers Hub plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between education and employment, ensuring that all young people, including those with additional needs and disabilities, have the opportunity to find their best next step. The Careers Hub ethos is that every young person deserves the best possible start to their adult life: to choose their own path and fulfil their potential.

Surrey Careers Hub sits within Surrey County Council’s Economy and Growth Team. In partnership with The Careers and Enterprise Company, the Careers Hub works with Careers Leaders, educators, employers and training providers to inspire and prepare young people in education with modern, 21^st century careers education.

Transitions Fair Exhibitors

Activate Learning
Ambitious College
Choice Care Group
Consensus Support
County Care
Dramatize
Early Years Workforce Development
Eurovia
Family Information Service
Jigsaw Plus
Linkable
Macro
My Employment Passport
Naturally Talented Me
Nescot
NHS
Orchard Hill College
Post19
Ringway
SEND Advice Surrey
SMP Alliance
Surrey Choices
The Orpheus Centre

A group of young people with additional needs smile at the camera. They are attending a conference event.

KFC UK: a Surrey Success Story

Published September 10, 2025

Success stories

KFC UK is a global brand with a UK headquarters in Woking, Surrey. Discover more about jobs and careers with KFC UK by watching our Surrey Success Story video.

KFC UK – based in Woking

It’s an iconic global brand with a founder as famous as its food. But how many of you knew that Colonel Sanders’ fried chicken legacy is rooted in Surrey as well as Kentucky?

It’s nearly a century since the white suited Sanders first started serving his fried chicken in a roadside motel in the United States. The taste is now exported round the world, including the UK.

Kentucky Fried Chicken – known better as KFC – opened its first UK restaurant in Preston, Lancashire in the 1960s.

And the UK operation has never looked back. Currently there are more than 1,000 branches in the UK. And its parent company KFC UK has an annual turnover of close to £300 million.

This major operation is all coordinated from a UK headquarters in the heart of the Surrey town of Woking.

Find out more about careers and jobs with KFC UK on the KFC UK careers page.

Working at KFC UK

So how has a company founded in the southern US state of Kentucky come to be so popular?

Well, the food is pretty good – with the unique blend of 11 herbs and spices still very much a top level secret.

The company is also committed to being bold and innovative.

Jo Tivers, Head of Food and Quality, said: “I love working in the fast food industry. As the name suggests, it’s really, really fast. We can be really innovative, we can try new things. We have a customer base that is really interested in trying new things.”

The company is also big on investing in its people – with culture being a real focus. It claims to be “people first culture, really heart-led” – with a real focus on supporting and championing young people, especially with their first jobs.

As Hema Ladwa, People Experience Lead, explains: “We really believe that everyone has the potential, we just need to feed that potential, whether it’s feeding them chicken or whether it’s feeding them through their knowledge and through their learning and development.”

This commitment inspires loyalty and nurtures talent, for now and into the future.

Why work at KFC UK in Surrey?

KFC UK has had its restaurant support centre in Woking for more than 25 years. About 350 people are based there, with location being a major plus point – for business and for pleasure.

With direct train links to London taking 30 minutes and the M25 and two major airports a short drive away, connectivity couldn’t be better.

Jenny Packwood, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, said: “Not only do we have great proximity to London, the trains are really quick in and out to London for people who live there. And because we’re international, the proximity to Heathrow and Gatwick is also really helpful.”

Woking is also a fantastic place for people to be live, continually ranked among the best places in the UK to reside.

There’s culture, countryside, shopping, great food and drink plus access to a range of recreational facilities.

Jo Tivers, Head of Food and Quality, said: “It’s great to be able to go into the weekend, enjoy lunch out with the family, take them to the theatre, to the cinema. There’s always something incredible to do.”