We were pleased to welcome Tom Gordon to Harrogate College to celebrate Colleges Week and highlight the important role further education plays in developing skills across our community.

Marking this year’s theme, “Skills for All,” Tom Gordon MP visited a range of classes focused on practical, career-focused training, including catering and community interpretation. 

During the visit, he joined a session on the college’s community interpreter course, which supports learners who speak other languages to develop the professional skills needed to help people access services and integrate into life in the UK. Tom had recently visited Ukraine and was able to speak about his experiences with learners.

Tom was also able see some of our catering students preparing for a lunchtime service. Given many of our students go on to work within Harrogate’s hospitality industry, it was great to show Tom how we are preparing them for a future in one of the town’s key sectors.

Danny Wild, Principal of Harrogate College, said:

“Tom’s visit during Colleges Week was a fantastic opportunity to highlight the breadth of learning taking place at Harrogate College. From our catering students developing the professional skills they’ll take into industry settings, to adult ESOL learners who are building new lives and careers in the UK, colleges play an important role in promoting opportunity and integration across society.”

Tom Gordon MP said:

“It is always a pleasure to visit Harrogate College. They provide a fantastic opportunity for learners across our local area to develop industry ready skills, making jobs more accessible and opening up new opportunities for people. I enjoyed speaking to students about the opportunities they are able to access through the 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.