Our Colleges Week Celebrations

• Posted 02 Mar 2026

This Is What a Week at USP Looks Like

Colleges Week is the Association of Colleges' (AOC) annual national campaign celebrating the difference further education makes to students, communities and economies across the country. This year's theme was Skills for All, and we are proud to have once again played our part.

A College That Opens Doors

This year we hosted our biggest ever Careers Fairs across both Palmer's and Seevic Campuses, welcoming a record number of attendees alongside over 40 universities, 33 employers and apprenticeship training providers. Students, parents and members of the local community came through our doors to explore pathways, ask the right questions and take their next steps with confidence. 

Read more about our Careers Fair here 

It's Never Too Late

We also shared the story of Sally Booysen, a mature learner completing her Team Leader Apprenticeship at USP. Fitting her studies around her working week, Sally is proof that returning to education later in life is not a detour - it is the most direct route to where you want to go. Inspired by stories like Sally's, we are also launching new apprenticeship intakes for Teaching Assistant and Business Administration. Whether you are an individual ready to take the next step or an employer looking to develop talent within your team, we want to hear from you.

Read Sally's full story here 

Democracy, Community and a Bake Sale

A highlight of the week was welcoming Jen Croft MP to our Palmer's Campus. A USP College alumna herself, Jen spoke to our students about life as MP for Thurrock and the issues that matter locally and nationally. The visit was hosted by our European Parliament Ambassador School student ambassadors, part of a programme USP has been proud to hold since 2021, dedicated to building students' political knowledge and civic participation. The same group also raised money for Changing Pathways, a local domestic abuse charity, and created suffragette wreaths to mark International Women's Day.

Three Words

To close the week, we asked our students to describe USP College in three words for the AoC's national video competition.

They said: Immerse. Experience. Inspire.

We could not have put it better ourselves.

#CollegesWeek2026 #SkillsForAll #LoveOurColleges