Part of EKC Broadstairs College, the Margate Digital Campus is a new creative space designed to give students modern, hands‑on ways to learn. It’s one strand of the East Kent Colleges Group (EKC Group), which has six further education colleges and nine adult training centres. It’s home to the group’s Creative Technology pathway - bringing together high‑quality facilities, state-of-the-art equipment and courses focused on skills needed in the creative industries.
The new campus is located on the high street in Margate
The campus, which is located on the high street, opened in February and currently has 92 students, with plans to grow to around 200 students by its third year.
A key partnership is with A+C Studios, a stop‑motion animation studio based in Margate. Together with EKC Group, they have developed a new Animation and Illustration course - which gives students a real insight into what working in the animation industry is like.
During her visit, Beverley met staff, had a tour of the studios and learned how the campus works closely with creative businesses.
“This is a great example of how investing in education can support young people, benefit the local area and grow talent here in Kent”
Speaking after her visit Beverley Fordham said:
“I was really impressed by the Margate Digital Campus and the ambition behind it. The facilities are excellent, and the strong links with local creative businesses mean students are gaining real‑world skills that will help them progress into employment.
“EKC Group has taken a forward‑thinking approach to training, making sure the skills it teaches match the jobs needed in the local area. This work directly supports Kent County Council’s flagship work with the sector, Pathways for All, which is focused on ensuring young people have clear and supported pathways to move into further learning, training or employment.
“The campus’ position on the high street also helps support local businesses by bringing more young people into town and contributing to the regeneration of the local area.
“This is a great example of how investing in education can support young people, benefit the local area and grow talent here in Kent.”
One of the studios at the campus
Chief Executive Officer of East Kent Colleges Group, Lucy McLeod, said:
"It was fantastic to welcome the Cabinet Member for Education, Beverley Fordham, to our new EKC Broadstairs College Margate Digital Campus. Showing her around the state-of-the-art facilities gave us the opportunity to highlight the exciting equipment our students can access, as well as the innovative curriculum on offer.
"As part of the campus development, we have also established a sector-leading partnership with Margate-based stop-motion animation studio A+C Studios, working closely with them to shape the curriculum.
"The campus provides an exciting opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience with industry-standard tools and develop the skills they need for their future careers, and we cannot wait to see how they continue to excel here."
The foyer at Margate Digital Campus
The campus also runs workshops for primary schools, secondary schools and other colleges. These workshops help introduce more young people to creative and digital subjects and support learning at different stages.
There are also plans to make the campus’s specialist spaces available for commercial use by other businesses. This will support local companies and strengthen links between education and industry.
Students at the campus benefit from modern, industry‑standard facilities. They gain hands‑on experience using the tools and technology found in creative workplaces, helping them prepare for future careers.
The Margate Digital Campus has been developed through a partnership between EKC Group and Thanet District Council, with funding from the UK Government. It is part of wider work to improve education, skills and creative opportunities in Thanet and across Kent.
