Harrogate College business newsletter – summer 2026
21 July, 2026 11:16 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 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, As we head towards the conclusion of another busy and rewarding academic year we have one eye firmly on the next – and the fantastic opportunities it should provide. Work on our new campus, as you can read about in this issue, is progressing well and on schedule for us to start wecloming students and begin teaching there in January 2027. That is great news both for our students and the business and wider community our college serves, as the new facilities will allow us to really take our training and courses to the next level. Meanwhile, the great work we are doing now, from our current campus, continues apace and continues to provide valuable opportunities for our students and the businesses and organisations they collaborate with through site visits, guest workshops, placements and more. You can read about some standout recent examples of this work in this edition. I hope you enjoy the read. Danny Wild Principal Harrogate College ________________________________________________________  Campus Milestone moment for our new college building We have marked a significant milestone in the development of our new £22m campus by holding a steel beam signing ceremony. The event, which celebrated the completion of the building’s skeletal frame, was organised in partnership with the developers, Caddick Construction, and brought together staff, students, governors and the construction team. The attendees used the occasion to sign a steel beam that will sit at the heart of our new college building, which will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including a digital technology suite, replica hospital ward, electric vehicle workshop and renewable energy technology centre.Principal Danny Wild said: “Seeing the new campus take shape is a proud moment for everyone at college. Our rebuilt campus will create outstanding opportunities for our students, strengthening our ability to meet current and future skills.” ________________________________________________________  Uniformed Protective Services / Applied Science Putting CSI techniques into practice Teeside University has been helping students learn more about Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) techniques. Our Uniformed Services and Applied Science learners visited the university for an Introduction to CSI that included a seminar focused on the methodology behind note-taking and evidence gathering, including the process of lifting and storing fingerprints. They were also given a chance to put those skills to the test by collecting fibres and blood and came away with a deeper understanding of what the field of CSI, and the careers within it, involve. ________________________________________________________  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. ________________________________________________________  Hospitality Supporting – and learning from – leading chefs Our connections with the regional hospitality industry help us deliver top quality training – and we in turn are proud to support the sector. Part of that support involves opening up our professional-standard training kitchens for the Chef of the Year competition. The event, part of the 2026 Harrogate Hospitality & Tourism Awards, saw shortlisted chefs going head-to-head in a Masterchef-style contest to demonstrate their culinary finesse. Our students, meanwhile, provided support as commis chefs, gaining valuable experience of working under pressure. We look forward to continuing, and elevating our support for the industry from our new campus building. ________________________________________________________  Progression Focusing on the next steps Local businesses and universities visited college recently to talk to students about their potential next steps. Our internal Careers and Apprenticeship teams also played a key role in the Student Progression Network Event, which shone a light on the different paths that are available in a range of roles across multiple industries. Our learners also took part in a Bingo-style activity to encourage them to speak with the guests and build their confidence in a networking environment. ________________________________________________________  Sport / Uniformed Protective Services A spotlight on chiropractic care and physiotherapy Two leading lights of physiotherapy and chiropractic care have been sharing insights into the different routes into the industry. Local Doctor of Chiropractic Ben Grant and physiotherapist Jamie Noble, from Family Chiropractic and Physiotherapy Centre, also gave our UPS and Sport students a live demonstration during their visit to college. The learners also got to put questions directly to the guests in Q&A session that shed further light on careers within the sector. ________________________________________________________  Hair and Beauty Salon professional leads skills session Our students were given insights into what it takes to succeed in a busy salon courtesy of guest speaker Becky Rojan. Becky, from Phoenix Lounge Hair & Beauty in Harrogate, also treated our Hair and Beauty learners to a Level 3 colour masterclass during her visit, helping them to develop their technical skills. She spoke, too, about how to keep such skills up to date in an ever-involving industry. Visits from professionals like Becky are invaluable for our students, both in terms of raising their technical levels and gaining a better idea about the realities of their chosen industries. ________________________________________________________  Electrical The benefits of a modular approach Our Electrical students have been given an insight into the techniques behind a Hull-based specialist bathroom pod manufacturer. The visit to Walker Modular gave the group a real insight into how building operations can be carried out in factories – and how this modular approach can be more cost-effective while delivering more consistent quality. Our learners were also given a detailed explanation, backed up with a demonstration, of how the pods are wired and manufactured in a way that means they can be simply plugged in when they are put in place. We are grateful to the contractors building our new campus, Caddick Construction – who are a client of Walker Modular – for arranging the visit. ________________________________________________________  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. Many of them gain what they need with us to go on to further studies – like Reece Longden, who started his college journey with us in 2017, initially studying IT before moving over to Creative Practice (Art and Design) two years later. After completing his studies with us in 2022, Reece went to our sister organisation, University Centre Leeds, where he gained a Bachelors degree in Film and Screen Media. He is now pursuing a Masters in Creative Practice with University Centre Leeds – and using the work to create our new campus in Harrogate as the inspiration for a film project. He said: “I never thought I would have created a film project related to Harrogate College though, which is something I am proud of! “A major part of my Harrogate College journey has been my tutors. They have all been absolutely brilliant, and I certainly wouldn’t have got to where I am now without their support and enthusiasm. “I’m excited and looking forward to seeing the new buildings taking shape at the college, but also I will miss the current building which has been the core of my educational journey ever since starting in 2017.” Reece aims to pursue film and photography related work once he completes his studies. 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 below.  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. Upcoming sessions include Social Media Marketing for Business, a Social Media Analytics programme, and a Leadership and Management course. Follow this link to find out more and book your place. ________________________________________________________ We hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of our newsletter – we’ll be back with more next time! |