Techbuyer has become the first sponsor of our under-construction £22m new campus.

The sustainable IT solutions firm, which has its headquarters at Hornbeam Park, already works closely with the college on everything from student visits and joint projects to guest talks and work placements.

It has also joined our Employer Board, which was set up to let local businesses collaborate with us to ensure the curriculum is delivering the courses and skills the region needs.

Techbuyer has now become the first commercial sponsor of the new campus which is set to open, furnished with state-of-the-art equipment to meet North Yorkshire’s priority skills needs, in early 2027.

Supporting education, skills development and innovation

The sponsorship will lead to one of the new main building’s digital rooms receiving Techbuyer branding, and to the company committing to two visits per year to talk to students.

CEO of Techbuyer Europe, Steve Sexton, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be the first business sponsor of the college’s new building; this reflects our long-term commitment to education and skills development in the area.

“Access to high-quality learning environments and current technology will help ensure students gain hands-on experience that mirrors the workplace.

“We believe the new building will become a hub for innovation and industry engagement, and help create clear pathways from education into skilled employment.”

Building on strong foundations

Techbuyer Europe’s Head of Marketing, Katie Fraser‑Smith, said: “We see this sponsorship as part of an ongoing partnership.

“From the outset, we’ve been impressed by the college’s commitment to equipping students with practical, industry-relevant skills. 

“We’ve been pleased to offer a range of opportunities to students, including work experience placements, careers talks, and insight sessions into our industry. These give them valuable exposure to real working environments and help bridge the gap between education and employment.

“We’re especially proud that two students who completed work experience with us have since gone on to secure permanent roles within our company. That’s a fantastic outcome for them and for us, and demonstrates the value of early engagement.”

An exciting new chapter ahead

Our new main building will be fitted with high-end kit, including a Virtual Reality studio and eight digital suites, to ensure it can keep pace with advances in technology.

Other new facilities will include a full replica hospital ward, an advanced construction centre and a renewable energy technology base.

Principal Danny Wild said: “It is great to welcome one of our key partners and neighbours, Techbuyer, as the first sponsor of our new college building.

“The company provides so many fantastic opportunities for our students and we have already achieved some great things together. We look forward to further developing this very rewarding working relationship as we move forward into an exciting new chapter for both the college and the region.”

Businesses interested in becoming a sponsor of the new campus, which brings with it a range of promotional opportunities and benefits, should e-mail: Lynn-Yang.Liu@harrogate.ac.uk.

We were pleased to welcome Tom Gordon to Harrogate College to celebrate Colleges Week and highlight the important role further education plays in developing skills across our community.

Marking this year’s theme, “Skills for All,” Tom Gordon MP visited a range of classes focused on practical, career-focused training, including catering and community interpretation. 

During the visit, he joined a session on the college’s community interpreter course, which supports learners who speak other languages to develop the professional skills needed to help people access services and integrate into life in the UK. Tom had recently visited Ukraine and was able to speak about his experiences with learners.

Tom was also able see some of our catering students preparing for a lunchtime service. Given many of our students go on to work within Harrogate’s hospitality industry, it was great to show Tom how we are preparing them for a future in one of the town’s key sectors.

Danny Wild, Principal of Harrogate College, said:

“Tom’s visit during Colleges Week was a fantastic opportunity to highlight the breadth of learning taking place at Harrogate College. From our catering students developing the professional skills they’ll take into industry settings, to adult ESOL learners who are building new lives and careers in the UK, colleges play an important role in promoting opportunity and integration across society.”

Tom Gordon MP said:

“It is always a pleasure to visit Harrogate College. They provide a fantastic opportunity for learners across our local area to develop industry ready skills, making jobs more accessible and opening up new opportunities for people. I enjoyed speaking to students about the opportunities they are able to access through the college.”

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.”

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, We have so much to look forward to over the next 12 months – not least our move into our brand new college buildings, later in the year. This £22m project represents an exciting new chapter for us, and for North Yorkshire, and will enable us to forge even closer bonds with our partners while delivering the very best training to ensure our local workforce has the skills to help the local economy thrive. You can find out more about the development, and how your business or organisation could benefit from becoming a sponsor, in this newsletter. Our students, meanwhile, have been gaining invaluable experience and insights into some of our key local sectors over the past few months, and gaining insights into everything from marketing and construction to hospitality and art exhibitions, through exciting collaborations with so many of yourselves.  You can find out about those, and more, in this edition. I hope you enjoy the read. Danny Wild Principal Harrogate College __________________ Construction Caddick Construction talk inspires students Caddick Construction has been sharing details of its work on our new college building with joinery, bricklaying and electrical students. Representatives from the business also offered valuable and inspiring career advice, along with insights into working within the construction industry, during an engaging talk. The students heard about real-life experiences on major construction projects, and the different potential career pathways that are available in the sector. The event gave our learners a clearer understanding of how their skills apply in the workplace while allowing them to form an important link with a major employer and a sense of connection to the new college building. __________________ . Sponsorship opportunity A chance to support our brand new campus We are on course to open our £22m new college building in early 2027 – and can’t wait to show everyone the results. As you may know, the completed development – which has been designed to offer the best possible training in North Yorkshire’s key growth sectors – will include a state-of-the-art main campus building and an adjoining renewable energy technology centre. Its facilities have been chosen to provide industry-standard experience for our students – and will include a replica hospital ward, digital technology suites, an electric vehicle workshop, and an advanced construction centre.  We are inviting local employers to put their names to our new college by sponsoring it. Three different packages are available, and we are also open to discussing more flexible options to suit your business, whatever the size. The benefits include having your company’s name and colours featured in rooms, walls or furniture, plus a host of PR and social media opportunities – including having your logo included in our prospectus and on our website.   To find out more e-mail our Performance & Projects Coordinator at: Lynn-Yang.Liu@harrogate.ac.uk. __________________ Hospitality – community Getting hands-on with local produce As any chef will tell you, using local and seasonal produce is key to producing the very best dishes. So our Year 2 Hospitality students picked up plenty of useful ideas when they joined local charity Time Together recently for their Allotment Feast. The students explored the charity’s allotment and learned about seasonal ingredients before taking on the challenge of designing and preparing a full menu for the event. The results included everything from chutneys and soups to bread and apple crumble, and earned high praise from the Time Together team. These kinds of experiences are so valuable, giving our learners the chance to put their classroom skills into practice in a real-world setting – and all while supporting a great organisation. __________________ Creative – Multimedia Creating artwork for CAMHS Artwork produced by our Multimedia students is now adorning the walls of Harrogate’s new child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) facility. Twenty students spent months developing the pieces that are now on display at Hummingbird House, on Victoria Avenue. The project, run in collaboration with Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, involved creating artwork that promotes mental wellbeing. The results – featuring a variety of striking and soothing images, plus motivational messages – really impressed CAMHS, who praised the students’ creativity, commitment and professionalism. They also invited several of our learners along to a welcoming tour of the new space at Hummingbird House, to see their creations in situ. Such collaborations really help our students to prepare for the workplace while motivating them by showing what can be achieved. __________________ A shout-out to our alumni So many of our students go on to do great and interesting things, in so many different sectors, and we’re proud of their successes. Hearing their stories – some of which are featured on our website’s alumni page, here – helps inspire future generations and shows them the incredible career opportunities that lie ahead. And when they come back to college to interact with our current group of learners, as Freddie Cleary did recently, it is extra sepcial. Freddie, who studied performing arts with us from 2018 to 2020, is now a professional singer-songwriter, who also does some acting work as an extra – recently appearing in hit BBC drama Riot Women. We were thrilled to welcome him back to college for our last Freshers Fair, when he came in and sang for us. If you’re a former student, whether you graduated last year or many years ago, we’d love to hear from you! Joining our alumni network is a great way to reconnect, share your journey, and inspire current students. To get involved and share your story, simply scan the QR code above. We can’t wait to hear from you! __________________ Courses for businesses We run a number of courses, at different points throughout the year, that could benefit your business. These include an Introduction to Social Media for Business, a Social Media Analytics programme, and AAT Accounting courses at various levels. Please e-mail admissions@harrogate-college.ac.uk for more details. __________________ Business and Creative Media A masterclass on marketing Our students gained some expert insight into how to build a standout marketing campaign thanks to a visit by Charlotte Nixon, from Techbuyer, in November. Charlotte, who is the firm’s Marketing Campaign and Content Manager, used real Techbuyer projects to demonstrate how creative ideas grow and evolve into effective campaigns. She also opened up about her own career journey in what was an honest, motivating reminder that there’s no single pathway into the marketing or tech industries. Her story has really inspired our Creative Media and Business students to be brave and believe in their potential, and we are indebted to her for bringing her industry expertise into the classroom. __________________ Campus Visits by high-profile supporters We were pleased to welcome two high-profile politicians who have been very supportive of our bid to create a £22 million new college to replace our existing buildings. MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough Tom Gordon, and York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith, have both dropped in – on separate occasions – to see how the building work is progressing. Mr Skaith and Mr Gordon were both vocal supporters of the project whose backing helped us get things back on track and receive final planning approval after the plan had been delayed and put in jeopardy. Recognising the importance of the new-build in terms of delivering skills training for local employers, they each made the case for the new college and for the Department for Education – which is putting £20 million towards it – to extend the available funding period. __________________ Motor Vehicle Magazine showcases our students’ skills Our Motor Vehicle students have had their skills showcased in the pages of a major classic cars publication. Retro Ford Magazine produced a feature based around our learners work to rust-proof a Ford Fiesta. The opportunity came about as part of an ongoing collaboration with Car Magazine photographer Rob Hawkins, and follows on from previous coverage involving our students in Motor Mechanics magazine. These collaborations are giving our learners valuable real-world experience while demonstrating their capabilities, and are a testament to the great work taking place in the Motor Vehicle department. __________________ Creative Media Using film skills to support a great organisation Creative Media students have been putting their film-making skills to good use for Claro Enterprises. Our learners are working with the Harrogate-based adult mental health charity to produce two short films, one to promote the organisation’s vital services and the other a practical travel guide. The students presented their final project ideas in December and then followed this up in January with a site visit, where they gained a deeper insight into Claro’s work. They were particularly impressed by the wood workshop and the charity’s hands-on approach, along with the meaningful opportunities Claro provides, through work therapy, to support people with mental health challenges. __________________ Commuinity – sport Teaming up for success 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. Those have included careers talks featuring presentations from local industry experts including our Principal, Danny Wild, who has a background in elite sports coaching. __________________ Uniformed Public Services (UPS) Insights into careers in the Royal Navy A small team from the Royal Navy have been talking to our UPS group about career opportunities – and demonstrating teamwork activities. The team delivered a lively presentation and question and answer session and talked about the wide range of roles – and possibilities fo travel – that exist within the force. Our students also got to put their skills to the test by taking on practical challenges, involving using kits to build various structures, that tested their leadership qualities and team ethos. We are grateful to Janine, Steve and Joe for bringing this experience to our students and their continued support of the college. __________________ Partnerships Harrogate College Employer Board – an invitation As one of our valued local business partners we would like to invite you to join our Employer Board. Members will be able to help shape the future workforce, by advising directly on the skills they need and assisting us to ensure our courses reflect industry requirements and emerging trends.  They can also work with us to strengthen industry links, including through placements, projects and live briefs, and champion the college and its work with key stakeholders. If you are ready to help shape the next generation of talent and contribute to developing a skilled, confident and employable local workforce, please do get in touch. To find out more, contact: lynn-yang.liu@harrogate.ac.uk. __________________ Creative Practice Soaking up art gallery experience Our Creative Practice students made the most of a fantastic opportunity to promote and showcase their artwork at the Mercer Gallery. The Level 3 learners were invited to organise a pop-up shop at the gallery in the run-up to Christmas to showcase their artwork. The event allowed them to collaborate closely with the gallery in a professional arts environment, while also gaining public exposure. It followed on from a previous collaboration with Mercer Gallery in October, when the students got the chance to display some of their work as part of an exhibition. We hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of our newsletter – we’ll be back with more next time!

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

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.

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.

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.”

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