Our Children In Need fundraising day has raised an impressive £155!

Students donned pyjamas, completed a dance exercise session and brought in home baking for a bake sale – organised by the Students Union and also supported by staff – on Wednesday 13 November.

Other events on the day included face painting in reception and a gym bike challenge inspired by the Charity on Wheels efforts of Paddy McGuiness on his bicycle ride from Wales to Scotland. Staff, taking 15 minute turns, ended up travelling 52 miles over five hours using an exercise bike that had been set up in reception.

Students, meanwhile, enjoyed a staff-led Zumba session at lunchtime which also brought the money in.

Student Life lead Beth Martin said: “Children in Need at the college was a great, full day event which really highlighted how much our students care for their own and the wider community.

“It was a joy to support the Students Union to achieve such a great event, and I am so proud of the amount that was raised.”

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The college held a number of special activities for Remembrance Day. The Charter Mayor of Harrogate, Councillor Chris Aldred was the guest of honour as we paid our respects on Monday 11 November.

Activities included creating a paper chain, making a fingerprint poppy field art display, and exhibiting a wall of Remembrance-themed poems and ‘Remember in Colour’ photos.

A standout moment was a march by the Uniformed Public Services (UPS) learners group that was led by our electrical tutor and former soldier, Sean O’Connor.

The one-minute silence, held in front of the college, was attended by all students and staff and was followed by a speech from two of our learners. All of the day’s activities were organised by our Students’ Union members, under the guidance of Student Life Lead Beth Martin.

Stay up to date with the latest Harrogate College news.

Our partnership work with local businesses is set to be taken to the next level through the formation of Harrogate College Employer Board.

The new body was proposed at the latest meeting of the college’s Employers’ Network as a way to build on the work we are doing to ensure employers can influence key areas like our curriculum and skills training programmes.

The theme of the meeting, chaired by Principal Danny Wild, was Strengthening Business Relationships: Driving an Employer-Led Curriculum.

The discussions focused on three key areas: 

• Co-designing the 2024-25 curriculum, through working closely with local employers
• Evolving business relationship by creating deeper partnerships
• Introducing Harrogate College Employer Board

An exciting new chapter

Danny said: “We are excited to share details of this new chapter of collaboration with local businesses and are looking forward to working together to create an influential, employer-led education experience for students and industry alike.

“Throughout the meeting, employers provided valuable feedback on strengthening ties between the college and the business community, and expressed strong support for establishing the new board – seeing it as an opportunity to have a more significant influence on the college’s offerings and priorities.

“We will be drawing up and sharing a new action plan, based on these discussions, and inviting employers’ network members to offer further feedback to shape the next steps of this promising partnership.”

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.

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?

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

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.

To receive future Harrogate College Business Newsletters directly to your inbox click here

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 .

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.