Harrow, Richmond and Uxbridge Colleges Celebrates Turing Scheme Overseas Placements
Uxbridge Campus was the place to be on Thursday 2 October when Harrow, Richmond and Uxbridge Colleges (HRUC) hosted a ceremony to showcase and celebrate five overseas work experience trips. During the academic year, 118 students and apprentices from HRUC travelled to destinations including Greece, South Africa, and Vancouver to undertake a work placement through The Turing Scheme - the UK government’s global programme to study and work abroad. The scheme provides funding for international opportunities in education and training and provided our students with the opportunity to develop new skills, experience different cultures, and build confidence in ways that can’t be replicated in the classroom.
Over 120 guests attended the celebration event, hosted by Liam Plumridge, Assistant Director for Enhanced Skills and Employability, and the evening got off to a great start with a fantastic performance by Kiki and Harrison. Kiki took part in an overseas placement in Canada where she worked on the production of Legally Blonde with Theatre Under the Stars. Harrison, who is studying Level 4 Performing Arts with Kiki, joined her in that duet.
Praise from our Canadian Partner
We were also delighted to welcome our Canadian partner and special guest speaker, Tim Wells of INTERNeX who said: “HRUC are the best group I have ever worked with in 25 years of INTERNeX’s existence. This was evidenced with the quality of the students and how they have shown such enthusiasm, detail and commitment to being better people which came through in both their journal reflections and their verbal impressions.”
Each student received a certificate in recognition of their achievements presented by Jo Withers, Chief of Business Strategy and Kai Barnes, Assistant Principal - Curriculum and Quality. There was also an opportunity to hear from one student from each of the five trips who shared their thoughts and experiences as well as what the placement meant to them.
Throughout the evening a delicious World Food buffet was served with cuisine from each of our destinations which brought back some great culinary memories and experiences. There was also another amazing performance delivered by Performing Arts graduates Billy and Kaydeane, who also went to Vancouver this Summer with Theatre Under the Stars.
Travel Changes You
Liam closed the evening with a quote from Anthony Bourdain that perfectly captures the spirit of these experiences and the impact that these overseas placements have had on our students. “Travel changes you, as you move through this life and this world, you change things slightly and you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life and travel will leave marks on you. Travel isn’t always pretty; it isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it breaks your heart, but that’s okay. The journey changes you, it should change you.”
Photo credit: images by Rob Addis Photography
Published 8 October 2025.