North Kent College has taken a major step forward in practical, career-ready education with the arrival of two fully equipped ambulances for students to train in at its Dartford and Tonbridge campuses.
The ambulances, which are identical to real emergency response vehicles, will be used by T Level students and all Health & Social Care students as well as other departments across a range of courses to simulate real-life scenarios, giving them hands-on experience that closely mirrors what they will face when they enter the workforce.
While the vehicles will not be driven off campus or dispatched to live emergencies, they otherwise function as a roadworthy ambulance. This will allow North Kent College students to develop confidence, clinical awareness, communication, teamwork, and decision-making skills in a safe but highly realistic environment, better preparing them for placements and future employment.
The initiative was championed by Dartford Campus Assistant Principal Stacie Collings, who first saw the simulation ambulances in use at Canterbury Christ Church University and immediately recognised the potential benefit for North Kent College students.
She said: “When our students apply for placements and employment, we want them to walk into interviews confident, prepared, and able to clearly demonstrate their skills.
Access to realistic simulation gives them that edge and helps them stand out as strong, work ready candidates.”
“Through this project and their work placements, students will gain practical experience across a range of health and care environments.
They will develop transferable skills such as problem solving, professionalism, resilience, teamwork, and patient focused care, significantly enhancing their readiness for careers within the NHS and the wider health and care sector.
“Training in a simulated ambulance environment allows students to experience the realities of clinical practice in a safe and supported way. It bridges the gap between classroom learning and the demands of real-world healthcare.
“We are committed to investing in opportunities that reflect our students’ aspirations. With many aiming to progress into paramedic roles, this initiative ensures they are well prepared, confident, and ready for the next step.”
“It’s very exciting and the students can’t wait to get started.”
The colleges already benefits from a hospital simulation ward, as well as an assisted technology suite both of which are being further developed to provide students with an even more immersive experience of a real healthcare environment.
Health and social care students will be the primary users of the ambulances, supported by industry-standard training equipment including lifelike mannequins representing babies, children, adults and older people. This allows learners to practise treating a wide range of patients in realistic environments.
They will bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world practice, reflecting the realities of emergency and frontline care.
The project has been shaped through close collaboration with health sector partners, including NHS Trusts and universities. Their involvement ensures the training aligns with current practice and employer expectations, while strengthening progression routes into health-related careers.
The immersive simulations also create opportunities for collaboration across departments, building on successful cross college projects delivered in the past. For example, during previous work with Kent Fire and Rescue, students recreated realistic accident scenes, with performing arts students acting as casualties, hair and make up students creating lifelike injuries, and public services students supporting the response activity.
With students increasingly seeking practical, hands-on learning, the new ambulances represent a significant investment in confidence, competence and employability – ensuring North Kent College graduates are truly ready to step into their future careers.