Harrogate College Business Newsletter – October, 2021
10 November, 2021 10:38 am
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 monthly 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
 Business Newsletter |
| Dear Partners, Welcome to our monthly newsletter which provides updates on how Harrogate College is working with businesses to provide an employer-led curriculum that helps our local economy thrive. We are delighted to share some of the inspiring things that have been happening during October along with details of upcoming events. Many, such as our Retrofit Awareness evening, Climate Action Festival launch and our new Sustainability Pledge, reflect the college’s commitment towards securing a more sustainable future. Those events, along with others like the launch of our Employers’ Network, are good examples of how we are collaborating closely with our local business community to ensure we offer the skills and training that’s needed as we seek to shape a greener, stronger, and fairer economy. I hope you enjoy the read. Best wishes, Danny Wild Principal Harrogate College ———————–  Retrofitting for the future The college teamed up with Zero Carbon Harrogate on 1 November to host a very successful, free Retrofitting Awareness event. The evening was an opportunity for construction industry professionals, plus interested members of the public, to hear from expert speakers about the skills that are needed to meet a growing demand from homeowners to make their properties more energy efficient. Sponsored by Bettys & Taylors, the event attracted about 30 people and featured presentations by guest speakers Adam Harper, a Chartered Construction Manager and certified passive house tradesperson, and Chris Wilde, MD of Yorkshire Energy Systems Ltd.Consolidating our links with businessDelivering an employer-driven curriculum that provides local employers with the skills and workforce they need, and thereby secures some terrific career opportunities for our students, is at the heart of what we do. The launch of the Harrogate College Employers’ Network on 21 October represented the next stage in that journey and proved a fantastic success, with no fewer than 25 of the district’s businesses taking part. Network members receive a range of benefits including discounts on college courses, a chance to shape the curriculum to meet their skills needs, and an opportunity to recruit students directly from courses they helped to design. More on the launch here ———————– Green Jumper Day The college will be asking students to don green on November 26 to support this awareness-raising day for climate action. Everyone will encouraged to wear a green jumper, and turn the thermostat down a bit, to support the campaign. Students will also be able to make (optional) donations to Green Jumper, a not-for-profit environmental organisation which funds tree planting projects and awareness-raising talks for young people. Click here for more ———————–  Inspiring a greener way of living Our hosting of the launch event for the first Harrogate District Climate Acton Festival attracted some great media coverage. The event, held on campus on 2 October to kick off a three week festival that had been arranged by Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition, attracted hundreds of people and more than 30 sustainability-focused exhibitors. Among those taking part were eDub, pictured here, who specialise in the electric conversion of well-loved vehicles, including campervans. The launch generated lots of positive news reports, all reflecting the college’s credentials as an environmentally responsible institution that is committed to becoming a centre of green excellence. Examples can be viewed here, in The Stray Ferret, here, in the Harrogate Advertiser and on YourHarrogate, here ———————–  Living our Values at Harlow Carr Hospitality students have started an exciting project with RHS Garden Harlow Carr. A group have taken up the task of designing a new menu and concept for the catering facility that is being restored on site. The project will have a focus on sustainability and using the produce that is grown at Harlow Carr. The participating students were recently briefed and then given a tour of the gardens, along with a chance to do some potting. Harlow Carr will be checking in on their progress in the new year and the project will conclude with the students making a Dragon’s Den type pitch, presenting their menu ideas and showing how they tie in with the client’s brief. ———————– A pledge for the planet The college, which plays a key role in training students in the green skills that businesses need to thrive in a more sustainable world, has issued a pledge to work towards becoming net zero carbon by 2030. The pledge is an ongoing commitment and will involve publishing annual updates to show the college’s progress towards this goal. Becoming a net zero college as soon as we can will require working collaboratively with businesses, community groups, charities and more. It will also involve speaking up for sustainable practice to support a circular economy that drives a fairer, greener society. At college, the move will involve making changes to reduce energy consumption, create energy generation, alongside dedicating areas for wildlife and planting – all while making students and staff aware of environmental issues and climate action. The college’s pledge has already attracted media attention, and is mentioned in this podcast on FE Week. For more on the pledge click here |
| We hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of our Business Newsletter – we’ll be back with more next month! |