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.

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. 

Turning Passion into Practice

Two entrepreneurial Level 3 Business students at Harrogate College, Theo Eastment and Noah Eardley, recently showcased their event management skills by organising a successful Supercar Show in Bingley. This event formed part of their compulsory Event Management unit, which challenges students to plan, deliver and evaluate a live event as part of their coursework.

Hailing from Ilkley, Theo and Noah chose to build on the success of a similar event they hosted in 2024. By replicating their tried-and-tested formula, they were able to apply classroom knowledge to a real-world setting – while indulging their shared love of cars.

Driven by Passion and Purpose

Theo explained their motivation:

“We started doing these events because we have a passion for cars and have always loved attending supercar shows. We thought – why not host our own, in our own way? We want to pursue this in the future because we believe it’s important to enjoy what you do for work.”

“For us, working with cars has always been the dream. We also see a lot of growth potential in this industry and believe we can build a successful business around it.”

Events That Make an Impact

Their most recent event took place on Sunday 11 May in Bingley and attracted around 500 visitors. Their debut event in Ilkley drew in over 1,000 attendees – demonstrating strong demand and a growing following. Importantly, both shows were more than just displays of horsepower and luxury; they raised funds for local charities including Ilkley Food Bank and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

In addition to ticket sales and donations, the students secured paid sponsorships from partners within the automotive industry, boosting revenue and increasing the professional standard of their shows.

Learning in Action

The practical experience has offered Theo and Noah invaluable lessons in planning, promotion, logistics, stakeholder management and budgeting – skills central to both their college course and future careers.

“We were actually inspired to organise our first show during the Harrogate College Open Day,” said Theo. “When Rosemary, our tutor, mentioned the event management unit, we decided to put together a show that summer, right after our GCSEs.”

Both students credit their tutors, David and Rosemary, for providing continuous guidance and support. “They’ve always been available to help us with questions and advice, which has made a real difference.”

Looking to the Future

With two successful events under their belt and glowing feedback from attendees, the duo is already planning their next Supercar Show, provisionally scheduled for August or September 2025.

Keep an eye out on our TNE Supercar Shows (@tne.supercarshows) as we will post information there as soon as it’s booked

Harrogate College’s hospitality students played a key supporting role in a high-pressure cook-off that saw four of the town’s most promising chefs compete for the prestigious Chef of the Year title.

Part of the 2025 Harrogate Hospitality & Tourism Awards (HHTA), the event was held in the college’s professional-standard training kitchens and gave Harrogate College’s hospitality students the opportunity to support the event through logistics and food preparation.

They worked closely with the competitors – observing, assisting, and learning from the region’s culinary elite – gaining valuable insight into real world culinary environments.

The finalists were challenged to create two standout dishes – a refined amuse-bouche and an impressive main course – under the watchful eyes of industry judges and with just 90 minutes on the clock.

Adding to the challenge, the chefs had to work from a mystery box of ingredients revealed on the day, using only equipment provided on-site, with the exception of one personal item. To ensure a fair judging process, the competition was carried out blind, with dishes delivered to the judging panel anonymously.

Danny Wild, Principal of Harrogate College, said: “We were absolutely delighted to host this year’s Chef of the Year cook-off. Not only was it a fantastic showcase of local culinary talent, but it also gave our students the chance to see the very best of the industry in action – right here on campus. Supporting the next generation of chefs and helping to raise the profile of hospitality in Harrogate is something we’re very proud to be part of.”

The event, designed to shine a spotlight on the exceptional hospitality talent in the region, forms part of the lead-up to the main awards evening on Monday 2 June, where the overall winner will be announced.

Tom Gordon, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough and an advocate for the town’s famous hospitality and tourism sector, said: “Events like these provide a brilliant way to celebrate and champion the vital role hospitality plays in our local economy. The culinary skill and creativity on show is truly inspiring, and it’s great to see Harrogate College playing a central role in nurturing future talent.”

Harrogate’s Hospitality and Tourism Awards have been running now for 17 years to celebrate the best of the best that the town has to offer. With hospitality representing a central feature within Harrogate’s economy, these awards capture the imagination of all who work directly or indirectly in hospitality and tourism, as well as many of the general public who use the many bars, restaurants, hotels, cafes and other supporting attractions.

Simon Cotton, Organiser of Harrogate Hospitality & Tourism Awards, said: “The Chef of the Year is one of the most prestigious of the 12 categories in the awards and is a very much sought-after accolade. Several years ago, with the help of Harrogate College, the competition stepped up a significant level, with the introduction of a blind cook-off in the college’s catering kitchens.

“Working with Harrogate College is an absolute pleasure and it is fantastic that their young student chefs work alongside the competitor chefs helping develop their own skills and hopefully inspiring the next generation.”

The cook-off highlighted the creativity, technical skill and passion that exist within Harrogate’s hospitality scene – offering a taste of what’s to come at the Harrogate Hospitality & Tourism Awards in June.