Harrogate College prides itself on working hand in hand with local businesses and organisations to provide the skills and training they need to ensure that our economy grows and thrives. Our newsletter is a handy way of keeping our partners informed of developments at the college.

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Dear partners, While we are proud to have Harrogate as our base we are a college that is committed to helping train people across North Yorkshire. So we are delighted to now be offering a selection of adult courses in Ripon, which should open up our training to more people across the district. We are also keen to share the benefits of networking more widely, and recently held a successful first Harrogate College Employers Network event in Ripon to meet more business owners there. Even more excitingly, the college is preparing to enter a brand new phase by redeveloping our campus to make it ‘future-proof’ and ready to keep providing the training our employers, and district, needs for decades to come. Elsewhere in this edition you can read about our success at the Harrogate Business Excellence Awards, a visit to the college by Mike Kaye from Energy Oasis, and some of the wonderful business opportunities our students have been benefitting from. I hope you enjoy the read. Danny Wild Principal Harrogate College A new era on the horizon In our fast-moving world the skills our employers need are always evolving – and that means we, as educators, need to stay ahead of the curve. That is why we have an exciting, £22m campus redevelopment lined up. This scheme, which will involve replacing our current main building with a new one kitted out with state-of-the-art facitliies, will help us to keep meeting the area’s skills needs for decades to come. The rebuild will also see a new renewable energy centre created on site to ensure our students  pick up the expertise required by the blossoming green technology sector. The project received planning permission earlier this year but unfortunately, due to a local businessman applying for a judicial review, North Yorkshire Council is now having to re-run the process. So we are currently lobbying the Department for Education to extend the time limit for the funding it had set aside for this project, to make sure the rebuild progresses for the benefit of our coummunity, its residents – of  all ages – and businesses. You can find out more here. ——– Branching out into Ripon We want as many of the district’s residents and businesses as possible to benefit from our courses and training. So we are excited to be starting to offer a selection of courses for adults in Ripon, from Ripon Community House. These got underway with our introduction of a Progression into Care course, plus a ‘skills bootcamp’ on social media marketing, in June. Further skills sessions and courses are set to follow and should e more accessible from this base not just to residents in Ripon, but also the neighbouring communities of Pateley Bridge and Boroughbridge. ——– Business award success! We were delighted to emerge victorious, once again, in this year’s Harrogate Business Excellence Awards. The college won the award for Employee Health & Wellbeing, to the delight of Principal Danny Wild – who thanked everyone who contributed to creating a ‘unurturing and inclusive environment where people feel they have a voice to shape our culture’. He added: “This achievement is a testament to our collective efforts and dedication.” ——– Stately home visit Our hospitality students enjoyed a recent visit to Carlton Towers – a stately home that specialises in laying on weddings, corporate and private events. The learners began their day by foraging in the estate’s expansive grounds for fresh, local ingredients while learning about the importance of sustainability and seasonality in cooking. They then got to use the collected ingredients and put their culinary skills to good use in the stately home’s historic kitchens, where they experimented with different flavours. ——– An energising talk We were pleased to welcome an expert guest speaker from one of our key partners in the local green energy industry. Mike Kaye, the founder and manager of Energy Oasis, came in to share valuable insights with our electrical students about the varied career opportunities in the sector. The students also learned how many of the skills they have been studying could be used in real-life applications during their future careers. ——– Cooking up a victory We were honoured to once more host the ‘cook-off’ for the Harrogate Hospitality & Tourism Awards. Some of the finest local chefs used our catering facilities to create a variety of main courses from a mystery box of ingredients. A panel of expert judges including celebrity chef Steph Moon then used the results to pick the winner, who was later  announced – at a glittering awards ceremony in June – as Iain Wilkinson, from Storehouse Kitchen. ——– . ——– Talking to Ripon’s employers Harrogate College recently hosted its first employer network event in Ripon. The event aimed to cultivate partnerships and strengthen ties between the college and local businesses, to provide a platform for collaboration.Principal Danny Wild used the opportunity to talk about the many benefits enjoyed by Harrogate College Employers’ Network members – including the ability to have a direct say in what training the college provides.He also emphasised the value of the college’s skills bootcamps, which have just started in Ripon, and how they are being tailored to align with the needs of local businesses. ——– Student Spotlight: Student’s creativity on display The work our talented MA Creative Practice students produce is often one of the highlights of the college year. Harrogate’s residents have been enjoying the final project by Mel Linsey, who has created an eye-catching hanging installation at Westminster Arcade, Harrogate. The work was on display throughout May.We hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of our newsletter – we’ll be back with more next time!

Work with us! We are a college that prides itself on collaborating with the district’s businesses and community groups. To find out more contact Business Engagement Advisor Susan Roberts, email: Susan.Roberts@harrogate.ac.uk .

Rosemary Haynes has been a teacher for 32 years and joined the college part time, teaching Level 3 Business, last year. Originally from Harrogate, Rosemary has a degree in European Business (Leicester) and a PGCE in Business Education (Sunderland).

In July 2024 Rosemary qualified as a professional coach and mentor, passing her Level 5 in Effective Coaching and Mentoring with the Institute of Leadership and Management. Also gaining her Association for Coaching Accredited Award in Coach training and a Diploma in neuro-linguistic coaching practice.*

This study resulted from a decision in 2023 by Rosemary to leave her Head of Department job, stop working full-time in the classroom and begin to move away from classroom teaching over the next few years. 

Rosemary said:

“I still enjoy banter with young people and feel self-actualised – cheeky bit of Business theory there – when they achieve their potential.

“I’ve worked in state schools and independent schools as well as faith & non-faith schools. I’ve been a part time teacher and I’ve had 15 years in management, but I feel it’s almost time to do something else.

“When I took the job at Harrogate College, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Despite living in Harrogate for many years, my knowledge about the college was sketchy. I came with an open mind about the types of students I would be teaching and their ability.

“I have enjoyed my time here so far; academic and pastoral staff are amenable and friendly and the students are motivated.  The general atmosphere is one of quiet but productive activity and the students are courteous.”

Achieving some of the highest grades in the country

Rosemary teaches on BTEC Level 3 Business National Diploma. Students who complete the whole qualification achieve 3 grades which are comparable to A Level grades, the highest being D*D*D*.  Last year our students achieved some of the highest grades in the country, with 50% achieving this top grade compared to 1% nationally.  75% of our students achieved D*D*D*-DDD compared to 26% nationally and several have gone onto University.

Rosemary also now works as a freelance coach and mentor as well as an educational author and editor for a publisher.

*Neuro-linguistic coaches work with clients to help them reprogramme their unhelpful internal dialogue, e.g. “I’m no good at that” “this is going to be a nightmare” etc.

Why not read more of the latest Harrogate College news?

One of our Level 3 Creative Practice (Art & Design) students currently has her film exhibiting at Harrogate’s Mercer Art Gallery.

Sound of Silence, by Sophia Howard, is inspired by the concept of oxymorons and how sound is an intrinsic part of everyday life. The film uses visual storytelling to explore the increasing amount of sound generated by humans and how, for some, silence can often be an uncomfortable experience.

Mercer Art Gallery celebrates female filmmakers

The film follows on from the Aesthetic contemporary film festival and Power and Identity exhibition that celebrated the work of female filmmakers. The exhibition, which ran until 30 September, included films from internationally acclaimed artists Jasmina Cubic, Juliana Kasumu, Michelle Williams Gamaker, Rhea Storr and also Trigger Point actress, Manjinder Virk.

In addition to showcasing her own creation, Sophia offered insights about the Mercer Art Gallery from a young filmmaker’s perspective, in the hopes of helping the gallery to attract a broader and more diverse audience in North Yorkshire. 

Creative Practice students at Harrogate College learn how to master their individual style through a range of techniques and processes across fine art, digital art, 3D and 4D moving image.

Sophia’s work is showing until the end of October. We hope to see more from her in the future.

Our GCSE students have been celebrating results that have opened up routes into nursing, teaching, university and more.

Learners of all ages found out their results on Thursday 22 August, and are now looking forward to taking their next steps in education or work.

Denise Winterburn – who was on holiday when she learnt how she had done – was thrilled with her Grade 5 in English. She said: “This means I can now make progress in my career and enrol to become a nurse apprentice.

“I couldn’t be happier and I’m really grateful for the help from my very supportive teachers, they were brilliant!”

Praise for ‘wonderful teacher’ Marie

Another student celebrating was aspiring teacher Matt Rodgers. Matt now has several options to choose from when it comes to where he will go to start his training this September, after securing both his English and maths GCSEs.

He said: “Marie Doney, my maths teacher, was amazing. She gave extra support when I did not understand things and she was so helpful.”

Many others also took the opportunity to praise Marie, who completed her final day at the college – after 14 years’ service – on results day.

Olivia Scothern, who is aiming to go on to higher education after achieving a Grade 4, said: “I would not have passed without Marie’s help, she is a wonderful teacher and I am so grateful.

“I am now applying to university and my experience as the college’s Students’ Union rep here will be really useful. I want to have a career as a primary school teacher.”

Fellow GCSE maths student Hannah Fearnley added: “I spent a long time not believing in myself. Marie has been brilliant, helping me build my confidence.

“This result just proves that if you apply yourself, you can do it.”

Jake Frieze-Smaje’s Grade 4 in maths, meanwhile, will enable him to continue his studies with us. He said: “I am coming back to Harrogate College this year to complete my diploma in Hospitality and Culinary Skills.

“I’m really happy I passed, my maths teacher was really friendly and spent a lot of time helping me to understand.”

And Craig Shava’s maths pass will allow him to study Applied Science with us as he works towards a career in radiography.

Craig Shava

For Latera Gnaro, a Grade 4 means he can now go ahead and study IT at our sister institution, Leeds City College.

Amazing support delivers English success

GCSE English students also had plenty to celebrate on the day. Anna Jarzynska was delighted with her Grade 4 – and also surprised, as she thought she might need another year.

She said: “I am so excited to have passed! It was only due to the amazing support from my teachers, Seona McLinden and Christine Day.”

Callum Ross, Alex Ross and Hayden Whitehouse all echoed those sentiments and, after finding English difficult at school, said they enjoyed experiencing a different teaching approach at college.

Jack Garbutt, meanwhile, saw two years of hard work pay off – all done while he was also completing his Level 2 Motor Vehicle course – as he achieved a Grade 4.

Programme Manager for English and Maths, Debbie Redman, praised Jack’s English teachers, learning support assistants and the pastoral team for supporting his progress.

Jack Arbutt (left) with Anthony Kay from the college’s pastoral team

For many learners such as Callum Bell, who achieved a Grade 5 in English, their results have opened up a range of exciting opportunities.

Callum said: “I came back to try again after a bit of a break and have succeeded this year with the help of my great teachers. Now I have both my maths and English GCSEs, I have more choices about what to do next.”

Harrogate College recently hosted its first employer network event in Ripon. The event aimed to cultivate partnerships and strengthen ties between the college and local businesses, providing a platform for collaboration and mutual benefit.

The event showcased the college’s employer network, along with successful case studies demonstrating the positive impact of such partnerships on both learners and businesses. 

The recent launch of the adult skills bootcamps in Ripon highlighted the educational opportunities available in courses such as Progression into Care, Social Media Marketing and GCSE English and Maths. 

Danny emphasised the benefits of the skills bootcamps, noting their design in collaboration with employers to ensure course content aligns with industry needs. These programmes include guaranteed interview opportunities, helping to bridge the gap between education and employment.

He also introduced the college’s ‘Pathway to Employment’ strategy, aimed at helping employers understand and integrate apprenticeship opportunities within their businesses.

The event concluded with discussions among employers, who showed particular interest in developing leadership and management skills within the construction sector, as well as exploring volunteer opportunities for college students. 

This meeting demonstrated the college’s commitment to building robust connections within the Ripon business community, fostering a collaborative environment for education and workforce development.

If you’re interested in learning more about how your business can collaborate with us, please contact us at:

Email: lynn-yang.liu@harrogate.ac.uk
Call: 01423 878 251
Visit: harrogate-college.ac.uk

Full and part-time adult education and training programmes are now available to more people and businesses across the county.

Adults looking for training opportunities local to Ripon, Pateley Bridge and Boroughbridge can now study a selection of our courses at Ripon Community House. 

From June 2024, the college will be running a six-week Progression into Care course, as well as a series of short adult learning programmes that will act as ‘skills bootcamps’ for those interested in developing skills within a particular area. 

The first skills session, which begins on Monday 10 June, focuses on social media marketing and is specifically tailored to teaching small businesses and entrepreneurs how to market a company to online audiences.

Further courses, including in GCSE maths and English, are set to follow in September. And the college is exploring the practicalities of offering more options, including in health and social care, at Ripon Community House as the year progresses.

Courses for adults starting in June

Explore the below courses in more detail

• Progression into Care
  Do you want to work in the NHS or the care sector? This short 6-week free course will help you to either begin or further progress your career in care.
  
• Social Media/Marketing For Business
  This social media course will provide you with up-to-date techniques and tools you need to create successful social media marketing plans.
  

Reaching out across the county

The new offering is part of a collaborative push with North Yorkshire Council. It is hoped that launching these courses in Ripon will provide the local community with an adult education and skills training service that caters to all residents of the wider Harrogate district.

“Harrogate is a great town that we’re proud to support, but it isn’t easily reachable for many people in other parts of the county,” says Principal Danny Wild. 

“Having a course delivery site in Ripon, which is also easier to reach for people who live in places like Pateley Bridge and Boroughbridge, is an important step towards being more accessible to our community.”

Programme manager Matt Hanson added: “We’re really excited to be offering adults in the Ripon area the opportunity to study with us.

“The skills bootcamps, as well as our GCSE offerings, are an important step towards job progression. We are also looking forward to working with Ripon’s businesses to create courses that meet their needs and build on the strengths of the local workforce.”

The college works closely with local businesses to ensure it is providing the training they need and hopes its move into Ripon will encourage more employers from the area to join its flourishing employers’ network.

Looking to learn something new? Browse our full range of courses for adults.

Work on our £20m campus rebuild is underway.

The college is replacing its main building and constructing a renewable energy hub to take its training and education provision to the next level.

The upgrade will result in state-of-the-art facilities including a mock hospital ward, digital technology suite, electric vehicle workshop and a construction centre focused on modern building methods.

Preliminary work began in February while the full construction phase, in what is currently the campus’s car park, will start in March.

First steps towards an exciting future

Principal Danny Wild, confirming the news during Colleges Week, said: “We are really excited to see work on our new campus getting underway. 

“The resulting, purpose-built facilities will allow us to keep producing the highly skilled individuals that our region’s businesses need, now and for decades to come.

“It will also allow us, while building on our close collaboration with local employers, to consolidate our position as the leading local provider of T Levels.

“We look forward to showing off the results, which will usher in an exciting new chapter for Harrogate College, its students and the people of North Yorkshire, in the summer of 2025.”

The college will run as normal throughout the building phase and students will continue to have full access to all of the existing facilities, as comprehensive safety measures will be in place to keep the building site entirely separate.

Building on green foundations

An artist’s impression of how the new renewable energy technology centre will look

A key focus of the upgraded campus will be on teaching sustainable technology skills, something the college, which has pledged to become net zero by 2035 and will incorporate energy efficient systems into the new buildings, has made a key priority.

Our green sector work to date has involved teaming up with local businesses like Energy Oasis, which helps organisations cut their energy bills, to hold awareness-raising events, specialist classes and more.

Energy Oasis recently trained some of our tutors in how to fit and wire up PV solar panels, so they can in turn teach the students. Founder Mike Kaye hailed the campus rebuild as a demonstration of the college’s ‘deep-seated commitment to sustainability’.

He said: “We are really proud that the college is looking to become a centre of renewable and sustainable excellence.

“This is one of the fastest growing areas in the economy and the more people, whether they are just starting off or looking for a career change, who can be trained up in these skills and deployed into the workforce, the better.

“By offering comprehensive energy and sustainability courses, Harrogate College is arming students with the necessary skills to lead the way towards a greener future. We look forward to working with them and supporting them in this new era.”

Plugging skill gaps across North Yorkshire

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones added: “As well as enhancing the facilities available to Harrogate College students, this £20 million new campus will bring many broader benefits to Harrogate, Knaresborough and the wider area.

“With many of the courses set to be on offer at the new campus geared toward sectors where there are currently local skills shortages, the development will provide a real boost to local economies, providing valuable opportunities for our young people and adults.”

The new main campus building is due to be completed by July 2025.

A charity that specialises in supporting men’s wellbeing will open its first Harrogate branch in January – here at the college.

Andy’s Man Club (AMC) has groups around the country but has had no representation in this part of Yorkshire, until now.

The organisation, which offers free peer-to-peer support sessions, will open its local branch at the campus on Monday 22 January, 2024.

Backing from soap star Dominic

The move is being supported by Emmerdale actor Dominic Brunt, who plays Paddy Kirk in the long-running soap. In a short video he created for the charity, Dominic said: “I’m overjoyed to let you know that there’s a new Andy’s Man Club opening in Harrogate, at Harrogate College.

“So see you there: it’s ok to talk.”

The branch, open to men aged 18 and over who can turn up whenever they wish, will run from 7pm to 9pm each Monday, apart from Bank Holidays.

An ‘invaluable service’ for men’s mental health

Our Pastoral/Safeguarding programme manager, Kerry Walker, said: “This is such a fantastic opportunity for learners, staff and the local community.

“Andy’s Man Club is performing an invaluable service in supporting men with their mental health and we are delighted, as a college, to be providing a space for them.

“Many of our learners will turn 18 while they are with us so they, along with so many people in the community, are set to benefit.”

The arrangements for the new branch were led by Neil Waine, who appeared in an episode of Emmerdale earlier this year when the storyline focused on men’s mental health, and saw ‘Paddy’ seek out a local AMC group for help.

Great support and and a great venue

Neil, a Project Development Champion (PDC) Manager for the charity, said: “We are really excited to get going in Harrogate and delighted with the college’s support.

“We have been trying to open here for roughly twelve months and once we had the right team in place it was time to find a venue.

“Having visited Kerry it became very clear that the college really wanted to support us and the size of the college gives the group scope to grow, so we’re confident this will be a successful venue.

“Having the support of Emmerdale, ITV and Dom Brunt, in particular, is amazing and we are very grateful. We got to know Dom really well when we were involved in an Emmerdale storyline, and he happily agreed to do the promotional video for our Harrogate group.”

To find out more send an email to: info@andysmanclub.co.uk or follow AndysManClub Harrogate on Facebook.

Our MA Creative Practice students have been celebrating completing their degrees in style.

Six learners, Catt van Leijen, Alexis Skarratt, Zoe Nicholson, Karen Hood, Hannah Alderson and Zoe Phillips, recently finished their degrees.

Between them they achieved five distinctions and a merit, to the delight of Creative Practice MA Programme Manager Dr Annabel Smith.

A celebration of talent

Annabel, who joined four of the students recently at their graduation ceremony, said: “For our six students to graduate with top results is a fantastic achievement and a real tribute to their talent and drive.

“It was a lovely moment of pride and joy to watch them receive their certificates. We also celebrated for the two who couldn’t make it on the day, Zoe Phillips and Hannah Alderson.”

Each student undertook a major final project to secure their qualification, with topics ranging from wild swimming and the threats of pollution, to the nature of creativity itself.

Life-changing projects

Alexis Skarratt’s Interruptions involved working with survivors of domestic abuse and incorporating their own words into a powerful multi-media installation.

She said: “I believe, as a mother of two children, that we should use the arts to explore topics that are difficult to address and as a starting point for meaningful conversations.”

Commenting on Alexis’ work, Dr Smith said: “This has been a life-changing project and deeply moving for all the participants and audience.”

For her final project Hannah Alderson, meanwhile, was inspired to explore the wellbeing benefits of working with clay after noticing how it had helped reduce her own anxiety.

Praising the resulting exhibition, tutor Caroline Miekina said: “Hannah’s posters, showcasing her research into exploratory activities with clay in the community, and her delicate, understated ceramics were presented to great advantage and attracted a lot of interest.”

Hannah is now working with health professionals with a view to starting a PhD on the subject.