Education chiefs have been finding out how Harrogate College’s £20 million rebuild plans are set to boost skills training across the county.
Harrogate College reveal £20million rebuild plans Education chiefs have been finding out how Harrogate College’s £20 million rebuild plans are set to boost skills training across the county. Work on two new properties at the college, a replacement main campus building plus a renewable energy technology centre, is set to get underway in 2024. North Yorkshire Council’s Executive Member for Education, Learning and Skills, Councillor Annabel Wilkinson, and Assistant Director for Education and Skills, Amanda Newbold, came in to hear more about the project last Thursday (13th December). [caption id="attachment_93660" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Principal Danny Wild with Amanda Newbold and Councillor Annabel Wilkinson from North Yorkshire Council.[/caption] Principal Danny Wild explained how the new state-of-the-art campus, which will include a mock hospital ward, children’s nursery and a range of digital technology facilities, will enable the college to take its technical training expertise to the next level. He said:
“The new building will be very much about meeting the skills needs of North Yorkshire, especially in areas where we know businesses are currently struggling with gaps - such as health and social care, construction, digital, hospitality and sustainable technologies like retrofitting. “We will be focused on working with North Yorkshire Council, and continuing our strong collaborative work with other local colleges and businesses, to develop these in-demand skills. "Our new campus will put us in a great place to do so, and to deliver on those new technical qualifications - principally T Levels - that are becoming increasingly popular as other qualifications are phased out.”Cllr Wilkinson said:
“I’m really excited for you, I think students will have many new opportunities with the new-build. “It’s been lovely to be able to come along and gain a better understanding of what you’re doing here at Harrogate College.”The guests were also given a quick tour and learned about how the college’s specialist educational needs and disability (SEND) provision is helping, through a supported internship programme, to gain work for students at Harrogate District Hospital. Ms Newbold said:
“It’s been really good to visit and get a sense of your plans, which are very clear, and see how we can work together on improving skills across North Yorkshire. "It’s important for Harrogate that we have the college and that it’s successful.”Read more local stories from Your Harrogate here.