NEWS insideSTORY
MOTOR VEHICLE STUDENTS ACCELERATE CAREER PLANS AT BRANDS HATCH
North Kent College motor vehicle students got a front-row seat to the world of professional motorsport during an action-packed visit to Brands Hatch recently.
The students went trackside at the GT Championships held at the iconic course and spent time exploring the inner workings of the industry, meeting teams and seeking out opportunities to kickstart their own careers in the motorsport industry.
Several students made professional connections on the day, with one being offered a potential placement with a Ginetta team. The visit included a chance to check in on three current
North Kent College students already working in the Fiesta Championships, one of the UK’ s premier junior racing championships.
Kevin Pilcher, head of curriculum for motor vehicles at North Kent College, said:“ It was a brilliant day for our students who were professional, enthusiastic and a credit to the college. Opportunities like this give them a real sense of the careers they can pursue and how to get there.”
Students studying a motor vehicle course at North Kent College benefit from top-class facilities that include a fully functioning garage, diagnostic centre and workshops.
TONBRIDGE TRAINER EARNS PRO TRIATHLON LICENCE
KENT FARMERS TO BUILD NATURE AND WILDLIFE CORRIDORS IN‘ CHALK TO COAST’ PROJECT
An ambitious farmer-led initiative connecting Kent’ s diverse landscapes from chalk downlands to coastal habitats has officially launched, bringing new hope for wildlife conservation across the region.
© Robert Canis
Oliver Waymark, senior trainer at Anatomy Gyms Tonbridge, has earned a professional triathlete license after a podium-finishing performance. Claiming third place at the British Middle-Distance Triathlon Championships and securing a prestigious World Triathlon Pro License marking his entry into elite professional competition, Oliver is now among the top athletes authorised to race professionally on the global stage. Only elite performers- typically national podium finishers- are awarded this license, making his accomplishment particularly noteworthy.
At the heart of Kent’ s fitness community, Anatomy Gyms is celebrating Oliver’ s achievement, which is a testament to his dedication both as an athlete and a coach. His podium finish not only underscores his commitment, but officially qualifies him to compete in international elite-level races including WTS, Ironman 70.3 and Ironman World Championship Events.
Kent boasts a vibrant triathlon scene, hosting major events like the Tonbridge Triathlon and Hever Castle Multisport Weekend, with hundreds of participants regularly taking part. As a local triathlete, Oliver embodies the county’ s endurance sports prowess and now he’ s one of its rising international stars.
The Chalk to Coast project unites three established farm clusters- Hoo Peninsula, Swale and North Kent Downs, and Medway Gap- forming a‘ super cluster’ that will create natural wildlife corridors across different habitats. These corridors are crucial for supporting wildlife movement, enabling them to find food, mates and suitable breeding grounds, ultimately contributing to a more resilient and thriving natural environment with enhanced biodiversity.
“ Over the last 40 years, we have worked to restore abundant nature to the coastal wetlands of Elmley and Swale, and more recently to develop a sustainable nature-based economy through nature tourism and education,” said Gareth Fuller from the Swale Farm Cluster.“ Chalk to Coast offers the inspiration, ambition, opportunities and scale to achieve a more connected and abundant landscape for both nature and people.”
The project contributes to the government’ s Plan for Change through the development of a national Nature Recovery Network, helping wildlife thrive and respond to climate change while connecting people with nature, farming and food.
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