We’ve been giving Harrogate school students a guided look around our under-construction new £22m campus.

The visit was organised as part of the college’s ongoing partnership work with Rossett School, and led by the developers behind our redevelopment, Caddick Construction. 

Caddick Construction’s Project Manager, Matt Hargreaves, showed a group of Year 10 students around the building site at Hornbeam Park. Matt also explained the different stages of the construction process, and talked about the many, and varied, roles available within the industry.

Real-world lessons

Regional Managing Director for Caddick Construction North East & Yorkshire, Steve Ford, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the Year 10 students to our Harrogate College site.

“At Caddick, we’re committed to investing in the communities where we work, and providing students with real-world insight into the construction industry is a vital part of that. 

“It is always inspiring to see the next generation engaging with our sector. We hope this visit gave them a valuable perspective on the career opportunities available, and piqued their interest in choosing Harrogate College for their further education.”

Our replacement campus will provide new and upgraded training facilities including an advanced construction centre, a replica hospital ward, a digital suite, an electric vehicle workshop and a renewable energy technology centre.

Inspiring the next generation

Principal Danny Wild said: “It was wonderful to welcome the Rossett School students in and give them a firsthand look at a major local building project.

“Construction is so important to North Yorkshire and to our country, which urgently needs more homes.

“To hit the ambitious annual housebuilding targets that have been set will require a significant increase in the industry’s workforce – and that means encouraging more young people to pursue careers in this exciting industry.

“Our new campus and its facilities will enable us to take our training, including in advanced and sustainable construction techniques, to a new level.

“We hope this visit has given the students real insights into both the building process and the wide range of jobs that are available within the sector.”

Partnership in action

Rossett School, meanwhile, said it was grateful to the developers and the college for giving its students ‘genuine experience of what it is like to work on a live construction site’.

A spokesperson said: “Experiences such as these play an important role in helping our students explore future career options and make informed decisions about their next steps.

“We look forward to continuing our excellent partnership with Harrogate College and providing further opportunities for our students in the future.”

Our new campus is being funded by £20 million from the Department for Education plus £2 million from the college’s parent organisation, Luminate Education Group.

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!

Harrogate College marks a significant milestone in the development of its new £22m campus, with a steel signing ceremony .

Delivered in partnership with Caddick Construction, the event held last week highlighted the progress being made at the Hornbeam Park site, celebrating the upcoming opening of Harrogate College’s new campus.  

The celebration brought staff, students, governors, and the construction team together for a tour, where future students, staff and governors signed a steel beam that will be positioned at the heart of the campus.

Danny Wild, Principal at Harrogate College, 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. Ultimately, it will go some way to supporting our commitment to delivering the high-quality learning opportunities our community deserves.”

Noah Siddal, one of the Harrogate College students who took part, said: “Touring the new build gave us a real insight into what our future learning experience will look like. Signing the beam felt incredibly special – like we’re leaving our mark on the college’s future and becoming part of its history.” 

This rebuild represents a major investment in Harrogate College’s future. The new facilities will provide state-of-the-art classrooms and workshops that will equip students with the skills needed by employers across the local area and wider region. Once complete, the campus will include a digital technology suite, a replica  hospital ward, an electric vehicle workshop, and a standalone renewable energy technology centre.

Steve Ford, Regional Managing Director at Caddick Construction North East & Yorkshire, added: “It is always incredibly rewarding to reach a major milestone in a project and see a new structure taking shape. What has been achieved so far is a testament to the hard work, dedication and collaboration of the entire team, as well as our strong partnership with Harrogate College and Luminate Education Group.”

The new building is set to open its doors to students later this year. 

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 – April 2022

Dear Partners, As a college focused on providing the green skills that our district needs we are always keen to announce new initiatives within this sector. A good example of this took place in April when we issued a press release all about how we are tailoring our courses to provide electric vehicle infrastructure training. Apprenticeships also have a vital role to play when it comes to plugging the national skills gap, so we are pleased to outline in this newsletter the steps we are taking to update our programmes and improve our offerings to best support local employers. Construction is one of the district’s key sectors, and we are delighted to be hosting a CITB funding awareness event at the college on Thursday 26 May when local firms will find out about grants, training and other forms of support.  One of the many events we held during March, for our Green Month, involved a visit from Too Good To Go, which works to reduce food waste by connecting people to restaurants and stores that have surplus, unsold food. We have now created an article all about the visit, as outlined below. We hope you enjoy the read. Danny Wild Principal Harrogate College — Meeting the electric vehicle challenge More training to support the country’s transition to electric cars will be introduced at Harrogate College this September. Harrogate, as recently widely reported in the media, has been revealed to be one of the ‘worst prepared areas in the UK’ in terms of supporting the shift to electric vehicles. Those findings were mainly based on the current scarcity of public charging points, with research showing that the district has just one for every 134 electric or hybrid cars. The college, however, is working hard to address the issue by teaming up with local specialists and providing technical courses to support the electric vehicle (EV) sector – and has just bought some charging units to use in training this September. Read the full story here. — Action on apprenticeships Recent figures have shown that apprenticeship numbers are falling nationwide – and especially in wealthier areas like Harrogate. Harrogate College, however, is taking action to reverse that trend by working closely with local businesses and tailoring its curriculum to deliver the skills they need. The college was part of a 100 in 100 recruitment campaign in February to encourage employers to take on an apprentice to ‘future-proof’ new and existing employees. Principal Danny Wild said: “While Harrogate is a relatively affluent town and many pupils who go on to study A Levels are likely to go on to university, we also need to factor in the increasing number of pupils who are interested in more practical options. “It is vital for businesses to understand how to recruit and support apprentices, and the college stands ready to support them. We work to ensure apprentices have the skills they need for the workforce. If we are to kickstart the economy by upskilling people, we need to promote apprenticeships as an option. “Through the 100 in 100 apprenticeship campaign and the employers’ network, there is plenty of opportunity for us to level up in the district. By addressing the employment and productivity gaps, we want to make sure no one is left behind regardless of what background or pathway they take.” The college currently works with more than 100 employers across industries such as hospitality, construction, science and pharmaceutical, as well as engineering. It consolidated its ties with those businesses by launching the Harrogate College Employers’ Network (HCEN) last October. Mr Wild added: “We are continually looking at ways to use our apprenticeship data so that we are better informed about how we can improve our programmes. We hope that as the employers’ network grows we can gather relevant data from all stages of the apprenticeship journey, both for the apprentice and employer, including on attendance at training right through to the endpoint assessment.” — Fresh thinking on food waste The college, which has made a Sustainability Pledge, is committed to promoting action that protects the environment – and recently introduced carbon literacy training for students and staff. As part of our Green Month activities in March, we brought together students and staff to educate them on the impact of food waste. An article all about the visit can now be read on our website, here. The college invited Lucy Mccarey, from Too Good To Go, to talk about the subject. Lucy, who has spent over two years fighting food waste and is passionate about the planet, introduced students to her top tips such as planning meals and storing food correctly – as well as using resources like the Too Good To Go app, where individuals can buy discounted food from organisations to prevent it being thrown away. —

Construction industry funding awareness event Harrogate College will be hosting a CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) funding awareness session for the local construction industry on Thursday 26 May. The event will give representatives from visiting businesses the chance to fiind out about what support, in terms of grants, funding and training opportunities, is available. The session runs from 8.30am to 9.30am and will include three short presentations including from John Long, of CITB, and Lorraine Kirbitson, from North Yorkshire Construction Training Group. A representative from the college will also give an overview of the courses and apprenticeships we offer, and show visitors the facilities that their staff and apprentices could use in our construction department. Those attending will also be able to find out about how to access free training at the college, funded by Zero Carbon Harrogate, later in the year. To reserve your place contact Lorraine on 07713 034917 (email lorraine@nyctg.co.uk) or book on Eventbrite here. —

We hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of our Business Newsletter – we’ll be back with more next month!