Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council has partnered with Runway Training to run 21 free, half-day taster sessions in agri-tech, construction and social care for residents — with priority places for people in Trench, Aylesford, Snodland and East Malling.
If you’re out of work, out of training, or just not sure where to start, there’s now a free way in. Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council has launched its People and Skills Project — running until December 2026 — offering practical taster sessions in three areas where local employers are actively recruiting: agri-tech, construction and social care.
Anyone in the borough can apply. But priority goes to young people classed as NEET — not in education, employment or training — particularly those living in Trench in north Tonbridge, Aylesford, Snodland and East Malling. Runway Training will deliver 21 half-day sessions across the borough, each designed to be hands-on rather than classroom-heavy. The idea is to give people a genuine feel for a sector they might never have thought of as an option. Follow-up support is available after each session too.
Cllr Robin Betts, Cabinet Member for Housing, Environment and Economy at Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, said the project would give local people “confidence, skills and connections” to take the next step towards employment and training opportunities, with links to growth sectors and county-wide programmes.
Oliver Trailor, Chief Executive Officer of Runway Training, said the organisation was “excited” to work with the council and that the programme would offer “real world insights” into sectors that young people “may not have known about or considered as accessible to them.”
The project builds on the council’s People and Skills Fund, which has backed 15 local initiatives and helped hundreds of residents since 2024.
Key information
- Who it’s for: All Tonbridge and Malling residents; priority for young people, NEET residents and those in Trench, Aylesford, Snodland and East Malling
- What’s on offer: 21 free half-day taster sessions covering agri-tech, construction and social care, plus follow-up support
- Runs until: December 2026
- To find out more or sign up: Email adultskills@runwaytraining.co.uk
Free skills sessions launch in Tonbridge and Malling for young people out of work or training Quiz
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