On Thursday evening, 8th May 2025, London South Bank Technical College welcomed a vibrant community of dental professionals, educators, and employers to a special networking event focused on shaping the future of dental technology and apprenticeships.
Held at our state-of-the-art Nine Elms campus, the event was designed to bring together leaders in dental lab work, NHS representatives, and prospective apprenticeship partners to discuss how we can collaboratively build the next generation of skilled dental technicians.
Building Bridges with Employers and the NHS
Guests were welcomed with refreshments and networking opportunities before the evening formally began with opening remarks from Tim Weston, Director of Career Pathways, and Wayne Wright, Principal of London South Bank Technical College. Their introduction set the tone for an evening centred around collaboration, opportunity, and innovation.
The first keynote speaker, David Smith, gave a compelling talk about the current landscape of dental apprenticeships and the vital need for industry engagement. His insights into the role of dental apprentices within the wider clinical team, and his call to employers to "mentor, support, and enthuse" their apprentices, inspired many in the room.
This was followed by an engaging and thought-provoking talk by Michael Wheeler, who discussed how apprenticeships were developed in partnership with the NHS and local laboratories. Michael detailed the process of co-designing a course with real input from employers, highlighting the importance of creating programmes that reflect the sector’s needs. His passionate explanation of the “everyone-teach-one” approach resonated deeply with attendees.
A Tour of Excellence
Following the speaker sessions, guests were invited to take part in guided tours of our dental lab facilities, led by course tutors Mark Horton, Mark Walters, Kwabena Prempeh, Holly Bench, and Nita Alihajdaraj. The tour offered an inside look at the cutting-edge training environment available to apprentices—equipped with the latest technology and designed to mirror real-world lab settings.
Supporting Employers Every Step of the Way
Throughout the evening, attendees were encouraged to explore the wide range of support that South Bank Colleges offers employers. From help with candidate recruitment and training needs analysis, to access to government funding through the Apprenticeship Levy and the NHS Levy Transfer Scheme, our team is here to help employers grow their dental lab workforce.
We were particularly pleased to see so many local lab owners and NHS representatives in attendance, eager to learn about the Level 3 and Level 5 apprenticeship pathways available, and how these can lead to long-term careers in restorative, orthodontic, and maxillofacial dental technology.
Thank You
A heartfelt thank you to all who attended, spoke, and supported the evening. Special thanks go to our guest speakers, including, but not limited to, David Smith and Michael Wheeler for sharing their invaluable knowledge and passion. Events like these are a testament to what can be achieved when education and industry come together to shape the future.
Interested in partnering with us or hiring a dental apprentice?
📩 Contact Zara George at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to begin building your dental lab talent pipeline.
