We are excited to have renewed our partnership with Harrogate Town AFC.

Our continued support for the club’s Player Pathway Programme will see us extending the work we are doing to help young footballers explore their options both on, and off, the pitch.

Since beginning our sponsorship of the programme and its Emerging Talent Centre in 2023, this collaboration has resulted in a number of initiatives designed to shine a light on educational and work opportunities.

Inspiring and empowering the next generation

Those have included careers talks featuring presentations from local industry experts including our Principal, Danny Wild, who has a background in elite sports coaching.

He said: “It has been a pleasure to support Harrogate Town AFC’s Player Pathway Programme, and we are really excited to renew the partnership.

“The club, like our college, is focused on inspiring and empowering the district’s young people and opening up opportunities for them to shine and fulfil their potential.

“We look forward to working closely together over the next two years, and to holding further careers sessions to showcase the range of options that are available to the club’s young players.”

Creating lifelong opportunities

Harrogate Town AFC Director of Youth Football, Josh Falkingham, said: “This partnership with Harrogate College continues to be an important part of our youth setup.

“It gives our players a chance to explore the wider opportunities that come from being involved in football, from education to future careers. The alignment in values between the club and college means we’re not only developing footballers, but well-rounded young people who are ready to succeed in the path they choose.”

The club’s Commercial Director, Jo Towler, added: “We’re thrilled to continue building on our relationship with the college.

“Their investment and enthusiasm have had a real impact on our youth pathway and community engagement. It’s partnerships like this that make a tangible difference, combining education and sport to create lifelong opportunities for local young people.”

Harrogate College was honoured to welcome Harrogate Mayor Chris Aldred for a special Remembrance Day assembly that brought students, staff and visitors together in reflection and respect.

During his visit, the Mayor was given a campus tour by the Students’ Union, meeting learners and staff from a range of departments. He took time to chat with students about their studies and future ambitions, praising the Union for their warm welcome and hospitality throughout.

The assembly itself began with a poem read by Mayor Aldred, setting a poignant tone before the two-minute silence observed by the entire college community. Adding to the moment, children and staff from Nature’s Little Learners Nursery at Hornbeam Park joined everyone in marking the silence together.

Ahead of the assembly, our Uniformed Public Services (UPS) students demonstrated their discipline and teamwork by leading a march, organised by Electrical tutor and former Army officer Sean O’Connell.

The Mayor commended the college community for coming together in such a respectful and inclusive way, highlighting the importance of remembrance and shared reflection.

It was a moving occasion that showcased the college’s community spirit and the pride our students takes in representing Harrogate College.

Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, recently toured Harrogate College to see early progress on our campus redevelopment.

The redevelopment, which was backed by £20 million in funding from the Department for Education, is on course to deliver a modern, purpose-built learning environment for students that will expand the range of courses the college course can offer and allow us to better meet the future skills needs of employers.

Plans to redevelop Harrogate College encountered significant delays last year. As a result of these delays, we faced a real possibility of not being able to go ahead with the project altogether. Tom Gordon was a valuable ally during this period, raising the issue in Parliament, writing to the relevant Minister and keeping the issue on the Government’s agenda. 

Tom Gordon, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said: ‘When I was elected, the project was under real threat. I made it my top priority to secure an extension to the £20 million commitment – and after sustained pressure, I’m pleased the extension was agreed and work is now underway.’  

During his visit, Tom Gordon heard how the redevelopment will expand the college’s provision in key areas such as advanced manufacturing, health sciences, retrofit, sustainable energy and hospitality, creating more opportunities for people to gain the skills they need to succeed.  

Danny Wild, Principal of Harrogate College, said: ‘This rebuild will provide a significant and much-needed upgrade that will enable us to build on the good work we’re doing to equip our students with the skills they, and the region’s employers, really need.  

‘The new purpose-built facility will allow us to expand the breadth and quality of our curriculum, so we can continue to provide high-quality vocational and technical education as well as apprenticeships for many years to come. I am grateful for Tom’s support in helping get this rebuild over the line and underway.’ 

The rebuild is being carried out by Caddick Construction and is expected to ready for students in January 2027.

Our digital era – where technology is ubiquitous, at home and at work – is widely regarded as being the world’s fourth industrial revolution. While the first revolution involved a rapid transition from rural, labour-intensive modes of working to steam power and factory-based production, our age has seen emerging technologies like AI, robotics, genome editing and cloud computing have profound impacts on nearly every facet of our lives.

Like all such periods of transition, this time offers both opportunities and risks, particularly in the workplace. Chief among the opportunities is the scope to land a rewarding and well-paid career in a fascinating, fast-evolving field; while the downsides, of course, include the loss of ‘traditional’ jobs and of people getting left behind as innovation sweeps away what came before.

It is our task, as education and training providers, to ensure as many people as possible reap the benefits – and that no-one gets left out. So when we began designing our new £22m Harrogate College campus, which opens later this year, the digital sector – and the facilities we would need to train people for it – was among our foremost priorities.

As was the need to form even closer alliances with the rapidly increasing number of local employers who rely on technology and suitably trained workers, to make sure we are meeting current, and anticipating future, needs.

Meeting local and regional skills needs

This sector has huge potential but we know from working closely with local businesses, and from recent research including a 2025 Labour Market Report commissioned by York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, that our area is suffering from a significant skills shortfall.

The report notes that there is currently a 15 per cent skills gap, representing around 6,000 employees who need additional training, with the problem most acute in digital and analytical skills.

At the same time, local employers in general are struggling to find suitably skilled recruits to fill 25 per cent of vacancies, especially in technical, professional and trade occupations, even as national unemployment rates are rising. The Office for National Statistics figures show this is particularly affecting younger people – with the number of unemployed 18 to 24 year olds increasing to 85,000 in the three months to October 2025.

There is therefore a major job to be done across several fronts for colleges like ourselves and fellow members of the York and North Yorkshire Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF): to deliver more ‘work ready’, appropriately skilled students; to help businesses train up their existing employees; and, in doing so, create the conditions for more jobs to be created.

York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith publicly recognised the importance of the technology sector to the local economy when he unveiled his £2.4m Skills Innovation Fund in 2025.

Announcing the money, he said the programmes it will support – which includes a partnership of all of the area’s further education colleges – would “not only address skills needs for the tech jobs of the future, but…also ensure that opportunity will reach people from all walks of life”.

That is a goal which we, as a college committed to helping people flourish regardless of background or age, are naturally aligned to.

Investing in facilities, courses and future talent

To help achieve it, we will need cutting-edge facilities that can keep up with advancements in technology – which is why our new building will include eight digital suites and a Virtual Reality studio. But we, and our fellow FE colleges, will also need to tailor our courses and teaching to ensure they give our students the targeted knowledge and real-world experience they need to be of most value.

That is why we will be expanding our digital courses, which already cover Creative Digital and Multimedia Production & Design, Creative Media and Digital Functional Skills (for adults), to include Digital Software Development and Digital Support and Security T Levels from 2027.

T Levels, which are equivalent to three A levels, represent the gold standard when it comes to technical education. By blending classroom-learning with industry work placements, these qualifications ensure that students have got some quality experience under their belt – and formed relationships with local employers – by the time they complete their studies.

We know from the work our students are already doing with so many businesses how valuable such experience can be.

That is something we are looking forward to taking to a whole other level through our brand new campus. The state-of-the-art facilities that are being created for it (which will also include a replica hospital ward, advanced construction centre and a renewable energy technology base) have been designed to ensure we can produce the skilled workers North Yorkshire needs and deserves, now and in the future.

Principal of Harrogate College, Danny Wild

David Skaith has been given a first look at work to create Harrogate College’s £22m new campus. 

The Mayor for York and North Yorkshire inspected the groundworks for the development, which will involve replacing the main teaching building and creating a new technology centre, during a visit to the Hornbeam Park site. 

The new-look college will include a full digital technology suite, including a VR (Virtual Reality) room, a replica mock hospital ward, an electric vehicle workshop, an advanced construction centre, and a standalone renewable energy technology centre. 

David Skaith said: “Harrogate College plays a crucial role in giving our young people the skills they need to stay and thrive in York and North Yorkshire. So, when the college’s £22 million rebuild project was threatened by a legal challenge, I brought together local politicians and organisations to push for an extension to the funding.” 

The Mayor, alongside other local stakeholders, supported Harrogate College in securing an extension to the funding necessary to complete the rebuild when the project faced planning delays last year. 

 “It was great to see the work take shape. This will mean that Harrogate College will have the best facilities to deliver the education and training that students and businesses need for years to come.” 

Based at Hornbeam Park, the college already provides training aligned to many of the region’s priority sectors, including creative, digital, hospitality, health, construction, professional services, and renewable energy. 

He was welcomed by Harrogate College Principal, Danny Wild, who outlined how the new industry-standard facilities will strengthen skills provision across the region and support local employers in key growth sectors. 

Danny Wild said: “I’m extremely grateful for the support shown by the mayor in securing this vital rebuild that will benefit young people across the region. These purpose-built facilities will enable us to expand the breadth and quality of our provision, support new and growing industries, and continue working closely with employers to deliver the skills York and North Yorkshire need for the future.” 

Supported by £20m of Department for Education funding and £2m from Luminate Education Group, the rebuild is being delivered by Caddick Construction and is expected to be completed by the 2026/27 academic year. 

Steve Ford, Regional Managing Director, Caddick Construction North East & Yorkshire, commented: “It was a privilege to join Harrogate College and Luminate Education Group in welcoming the Mayor to site to see the progress being made on the £22m rebuild. Following on from the success of the new Pudsey Sixth Form College, the investment at Harrogate will enhance the opportunity for students to learn vital new skills and explore exciting new career paths as the region’s future workforce. We’re very proud to be bringing this educational space to life and helping the college expand its support for young people’s education now and in the future.”

Work has officially begun on our brand-new £22 million college, marking the start of an exciting new chapter for education and skills in the region. The redevelopment is being backed by £20 million in funding from the Department for Education, along with a further £2 million investment from Luminate Education Group.

The ambitious project will deliver a modern, purpose-built learning environment that will reflect the economic and skills priorities of the York and North Yorkshire Combine Authority. Facilities will include a renewable energy technology centre, a mock hospital ward, a digital technology suite, an electric vehicle workshop and a construction centre that will place a strong emphasis on modern, low-carbon building methods.

By creating these state-of-the-art spaces, the college will be able to expand its provision in key areas such as advanced manufacturing, health sciences, retrofit, sustainable energy and hospitality. The investment will also help ensure that students are equipped with the specialist skills and experience needed to thrive in the industries of the future.

Principal Danny Wild said: ”I am incredibly pleased to start this project that will give life changing opportunities to our students. Our state of the art facilities are going to give us a foundation to ensure out students leave us highly skilled and ready to progress  into university or work where they can continue to thrive, full of confident from their time at Harrogate College”

The new campus is on track to welcome students in time for the 2026 academic year, when Harrogate College will open its doors to a new generation of learners in an inspiring and future-focused environment

Our students have opened up exciting academic and employment opportunities by achieving some great GCSE results.

Alexandra Krzsowska is a step closer to her dream of studying law at university after gaining a grade 5 in her English resit.

Alexandra, who wants to ultimately work as a solicitor, said: “This means I can pursue my dream and hopefully get into a good uni.

“The college has been great and I had so much support along the way.”

She now aims to study A levels in politics, English literature and philosophy to gain the qualifications she needs to progress to university.

English success for Kaiden – with some family help

Also among those celebrating this year was Kaiden Finfinger, who has passed his English GCSE (with a grade 4).

The result means Kaiden, who is dyslexic, can progress to his Level 2 Electrical course. His success is in part thanks to the support of his grandmother, Sherley, who came to the college last year to sit her English GCSE so she could help him revise.

English teacher, Seona McLinden, said she was delighted to see all of Kaiden’s hard work pay off.

Family support was also important to Will Winterburn, who achieved a grade 4 pass, too.

Will’s mum, Denise, studied and passed her English GCSE with us last year which inspired her son.

He credits the one to one sessions he had with his teacher, Seona, and all of the focused classroom work for helping him get the result.

University place secured

Adult learners, like Krystian Odwrocki, were also finding out how they had fared on Thursday 21 August.

Krystian studied physiotherapy in Poland ten years ago, before he moved to the UK.

He recently decided to go back to college, and has just achieved a grade 5 in English, plus Distinctions in his Access to HE Diploma (Health Science Professions).

Delighted with those results, which were achieved despite the challenges of studying in his second language, he has secured a place at the University of Huddersfield.

Krystian’s ultimate aim is to forge a career in the NHS.

‘Miles better than school’

Creative Media student Liam Pinchen, meanwhile, was full of praise for college life as he reflected on his grade 5 English result.

Liam faced some additional challenges this year but was determined to put in extra effort to prepare for his exams.

He said: “College has been miles better than school. School only cared about attendance, whereas college has been a lot more supportive and understanding.”

Praise for ‘amazing’ and supportive college

For 17-year-old Connor Williams-Husband, the day was all about making progress – and that’s exactly what he did in his maths and English resits, achieving a grade 3 and grade 4, respectively.

He said: “The college was amazing, I met a lot of new people.

“The teachers helped when they could and if I didn’t understand they were there to help. I feel very proud of myself and how the results turned out.”

The same was true for Joshua Spence, who improved his English from a grade 3 to a grade 5. Joshua credited his ‘amazing’ teacher, plus the tailored support he received, for making the difference.

Higher education in sight for Francine

Francine Farias Pozzi was very happily surprised with the grade 5s she achieved in English and maths.

Francine, who moved to the UK from Brazil a few years ago, has loved her time with us and says the college’s style of teaching has really suited her.

She is planning to come back to us to do an Access to HE course, and potentially very soon once her son, Milo, starts school.

There was plenty of excitement at Harrogate College as our Level 3 vocational learners collected their results on Thursday 14 August.

The hard work and dedication of our students has paid off, with many securing top grades and preparing to take their next steps into university and the world of work.

Triple Distinctions for Business student

Among those delighted was Mansoor Dawoodzai, who achieved a Triple Distinction on the Level 3 Extended Business Diploma.

Mansoor said: “I’m feeling proud that all the hard work paid off. Next, I’m planning to go to university to study Business and Management.

“The course was good – I had teachers who supported me with my work, gave advice, and encouraged me to keep going. The support at college has been great and helped my confidence grow.

“If I had to describe Harrogate College in three words, I’d say: supportive, friendly and inspiring.”

Exploring new opportunities

Fellow Business student Jodie Parry also secured an impressive Triple Distinction on her Extended Diploma.

She said: “I’m feeling absolutely over the moon. I’m off to Sheffield Hallam University in September.

“The course was a rollercoaster – a few units were really interesting and a few were okay – but I always had my tutors supporting me and pushing me when I really needed it.”

“Keep your mind open and never close a door to one option. You’re always able to change your mind and staff are so supportive”

Looking to the future

With results now in, both Mansoor and Jodie are excited to take their next steps into higher education, where they’ll build on the strong foundation they developed at Harrogate College.

Principal Danny Wild said:

“We are so proud of our students for their hard work and achievements. These results reflect their commitment and the support of our staff, with all now progressing into university, apprenticeships and employment. We wish them every success in the future.”

Harrogate College has secured planning permission from the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Planning Committee to proceed with a £22 million campus rebuild. The plans were passed unopposed by councillors.

In addition to a new state-of-the-art main campus building, the planned facilities also include a renewable energy technology centre. Harrogate College is undertaking this rebuild to strengthen its ability to offer cutting-edge courses in priority growth sectors for Harrogate and the wider North Yorkshire region, including advanced manufacturing, low carbon construction, retrofit, sustainable energy, health science, and hospitality. 

The improved facilities that learners will benefit from include a mock hospital ward, a digital technology suite, an electric vehicle workshop, and a construction centre focused on modern building methods. 

Harrogate College are now awaiting written confirmation from the council before commencing the project.

Harrogate College’s Principal, Danny Wild, said: “It is immensely pleasing to have now secured planning permission to pursue this forward-looking, innovative and value for money investment into Harrogate’s educational infrastructure.

We are now awaiting written confirmation from the local authority to proceed with Harrogate College’s rebuild.

The new campus will enable increased breadth and quality within the curriculum on offer at the college, allowing us to better support local and regional skills needs. As the only general further education college in the area, I’m excited to see the benefits these new facilities will bring local young people, adults and the economy.” 

Primarily funded through £20m secured from the Department for Education, the project signals the Government’s recognition of the need for investment to improve further education provision in the local area. The additional £2m has been sourced through Luminate Education Group, of which Harrogate College is a member. 

Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Planning Committee’s decision to grant approval for the rebuild follows a protracted legal challenge caused by the launch of a judicial review that delayed the project.  

During this delay, the project received high profile support from both the local MP and the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire. Each made strong representations to the Department for Education to ensure the project’s funding remained available. 

Tom Gordon, Member of Parliament for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said: “The Harrogate College rebuild represents an important opportunity to provide more young people with access to skills and training, while helping to build a workforce that meets the needs of local employers. As the town’s only general further education college, it has a key role in our community’s long-term future. Since my election, I’ve worked hard to push the Government to follow through with the funding commitment made by the previous government. This redevelopment will strengthen our local economy and open up more opportunities for people to gain the training they need to succeed.”

The key reason behind rebuilding Harrogate College’s current main building, which is an old office block that was never intended for educational purposes, is to meet growing student demand through closer alignment of the college’s curriculum with regional economic growth areas.

At present, there is significant unusable teaching space within the current building, which the college is now outgrowing. The new campus aims to better meet student demand for courses, with new purpose built buildings allowing for an overall growth in the number of learners at the college.

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “Everyone in our region should have the chance to thrive – that means connecting our communities to the opportunities that matter. Harrogate College’s redevelopment marks a big investment for the future of our region, giving people the skills and training needed for tomorrow’s jobs and helping our local economy grow.”

Construction is due to begin on the rebuild in the coming months, with the new buildings set to open their doors to students in the 2026 academic year.