Today, Friday 7 March, Varndean College in Brighton hosted an exclusive live event with world-renowned DJ and producer Fatboy Slim. As part of the FE Sussex Live Festival of Careers series, the event saw Fatboy Slim in conversation with BBC and Juice FM radio presenter, Guy Lloyd, for an engaging interview about his career, the music industry, and the secrets behind his success.
For the first time, new technology recently installed across seven Sussex colleges enabled students throughout the region to participate in this event. It was also livestreamed on YouTube and Twitch, offering fans and students across the globe a unique opportunity to hear from one of the most influential figures in electronic music. Fatboy Slim, whose hits like “Praise You” and “Right Here, Right Now” have shaped dance music for decades, shared insights into his journey, industry challenges, and gave advice for those considering a career in music and the creative arts. His Spotify playlist can be found here
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6AamyJleNa59kezdcGGqXR
Guy Lloyd, known for his work with BBC and Juice FM, hosted a lively conversation, bringing a fun and insightful atmosphere to the interview. Attendees saw a candid and inspiring discussion with the iconic artist, offering a window into his career as a global music legend.
The event was attended in person by students from Varndean College, with students from 15 college campuses across Sussex watching and participating through shared teaching and spaces equipped with state-of-the-art technology. The event provided an unmissable opportunity for anyone interested in the world of music and careers in the creative industries to hear directly from a true pioneer in the music world.
FE Sussex is a charity that brings together seven further education and sixth form colleges across East & West Sussex and Brighton & Hove. Varndean College is proud to be a member of FE Sussex, with College Principal, Donna-Marie Janson, sitting on its Board. The charity delivers collaborative projects for the benefit of the 50,000 learners across the region.
With the support of £4.5 million in funding from the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF), FE Sussex has undertaken a digital transformation project across Sussex, which has included the installation of 15 immersive and shared teaching spaces across all of its member college campuses, designed to address the skills gaps and labour market needs identified in the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP). These state-of-the-art classrooms will enable colleges to deliver the skills that Sussex businesses, charities, and public sector organizations need to grow and flourish.
In order to showcase this new technology, FE Sussex has organised a Festival of Careers, a series of five live cross-campus events featuring workshops and presentations led by high-profile speakers. These events have been shared with local universities and authorities, ensuring a broader outreach and increased engagement with the local community and beyond.
The FE Sussex Live Festival of Careers represents a ground-breaking initiative, bringing together learners from across the region and offering a unique opportunity for collaboration and learning — an endeavour that is believed to be the first of its kind in Sussex, and potentially the entire country. Other inspiring talks taken place have included Paralympian gold medalist Will Bailey MBE, scuba diver and Instagram sensation Gio Prince, and mental health expert, Nicola Harvey.
YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/@fesussex
