Our managing director Nik Hardy chaired the Further Education event ”Building success Together” hosted by Stoke and Staffordshire Careers Hub and The Careers & Enterprise Company.

The audience included College principals and senior leaders; Enterprise advisors who are volunteers from businesses helping to link the world of education and business; careers leaders from colleges who are driving this important work forward in their colleges, and Enterprise Coordinators and wider Careers and Enterprise colleagues who are responsible for creating and supporting the infrastructure to drive collaboration and best practice.

The event was created by the teams from 6 LEP areas who work collectively to support the development of the FE community of practice in their local areas. The high-level strategy around the policy context was aimed at strengthening the work of FE Colleges with Career Hubs, as well as hearing about the emerging practice that is helping to build the FE community of practice nationally and locally.

Nik Hardy’s own path began with a workplace apprenticeship scheme. It was this platform that gave Nik the tools to build a successful business that now operates nationwide and employs 28 people.

This path has guaranteed that, from day one, Nik has been passionate about ensuring young people are given the best opportunities to progress into work and training.

Nik and Hardy Signs have for many years champions the development of apprenticeships within our sector and beyond. 

In 2016, the Hardy Signs ‘Sign and Print Academy’ was opened at Burton & South Derbyshire College. Here, the sign makers of the future can learn the skills it takes to succeed in the trade. Hardy Signs itself now employs several full-time staff who have completed their apprenticeship through the academy. Nik has spent 3 years as President of Burton Chambers of Commerce and is also currently an Enterprise Advisor for Burton and South Derbyshire College.