College revamp plans ‘will cause parking chaos’ at Hornbeam ParkCollege revamp plans ‘will cause parking chaos’ at Hornbeam Park

Plans to redevelop Harrogate College’s site are threatening to cause parking “chaos”, according to neighbouring tenants on Hornbeam Park. 

As we reported in February, the college is replacing its main building and constructing a £20 million renewable energy skills hub to ‘future-proof’ the site. 

Luminate Education Group, of which Harrogate College is a member, applied for planning permission for the project in August and the case is due to be decided upon by today. 

Preparatory work has already begun on site and Harrogate College has announced that its car park, which it says is used by around 70 staff and students at any one time, will be closed from Monday, April 22 to allow work to proceed.

The college aims to move into the new main campus building in July 2025, after which the current property will be demolished, making way for new parking facilities. 

In the meantime, the college will have 242 fewer car-parking spaces, and has told staff and students to park at the Hornbeam Park rail station and in nearby streets. In its construction management plan, main contractor Caddick Construction states: 

“We encourage the use of the nearby station car-park.” 

But neighbouring tenants on the business park say the rail halt car-park is usually full, and neighbouring streets are not a satisfactory solution to the shortage of spaces. 

Chris Bentley is director of Hornbeam Park Developments, which owns and runs the business park. He told the Stray Ferret: 

“I am not objecting to the new college – I applaud the fact that they are replacing it with an all new facility, fit for purpose for the next generation. 

“What I am objecting to is the displacement of car-parking without thought to the businesses here at Hornbeam. They are also encouraging their car-users to park at the rail halt or around the nearby residential area. 

“It’ll cause chaos to the businesses here – there is no extra available parking on the site and the Hornbeam Park railway station car park it always full. 

“When the project was originally proposed we were given to understand that a new college car-park would be rebuilt on the old building’s site. 

“Now we find that they are reducing the allocation by a third from 242 currently available down to 88, based on a one-day survey taken as we came out of covid.” 

Photo of Harrogate College, on Hornbeam Park.

Harrogate College, on Hornbeam Park.

His views are echoed by several Hornbeam Park tenants who left comments on the council’s online planning portal. 

In his comment, Alan Fisher, facilities manager at nearby Techbuyer, said: 

“Our concern is that it may devolve into a chaotic situation, with people potentially parking in other spaces across Hornbeam Park, including our staff car-parks which are already reaching capacity. Such a scenario could adversely affect our business and staff, as well as customers and clients.” 

He added: 

“We have a large number of heavy vehicles delivering to our sites, and third parties – who haven’t been briefed as our staff are – pose a safety risk in relation to the operation of these vehicles and the forklifts needed to load and unload them.” 

Also commenting on the planning application, Deb Robinson, of family business Witch Casket, said: 

“I already have issues with our parking spaces, stopping my employees being able to park in our own dedicated car-park and deliveries from being made to our warehouse. People have been incredibly abusive and this has caused great emotional distress to our staff.”

Mr Bentley suggested that the college use a nearby field – believed to be owned by Hull College and the Department for Education – as a temporary car-park. However, Harrogate College said it explored the idea but found it was impractical for a number of reasons, principally due to the impact on traffic. It said North Yorkshire Council had advised that making the field into a car-park would require altering all of Hornbeam Park Avenue – the main road through the business park – to ensure safe access.

Danny Wild, Principal of Harrogate College, said the closure of the car-park could not be avoided and said that Caddick Construction had secured 20 spare parking spaces at Hornbeam Park to mitigate the shortfall. He told the Stray Ferret:
“Our exciting £20 million rebuild will allow us to provide the education and training required by Harrogate and North Yorkshire now and in the future, and so bolster the local economy by filling the skills gaps, including in the fast-growing sustainability sector, currently holding us back.
“Doing so will bring great and long-term benefits to our students, community and businesses, which is what we are committed to.
“The temporary closure of our car-park is a necessary part of this project. During this time, we are advising our staff and students to either make alternative travel arrangements to college where possible or to park responsibly in the local area.”

Hornbeam Park has about 120 tenants, and it is estimated that around 4,500 people work and study on the park each day. All the roads providing access around the site belong to site owner Hornbeam Park Developments Ltd, so parking there is not a matter for North Yorkshire Council.

There is no longer any direct bus service from Harrogate town centre to Hornbeam Park, but commuters can still catch buses as far as either Leeds Road, which is 750m away, or Oatlands Drive, 500m away. Both fall within the walking distances deemed acceptable under Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation guidelines. 

The regular rail service between Harrogate and Leeds also stops at Hornbeam Park 30 times per day in each direction. 

The redevelopment of Harrogate College’s site will create modern facilities such as a mock hospital ward, digital technology suite, electric vehicle workshop and a construction centre focused on teaching modern building methods. 

A total of £16m of the funding has come from the Department for Education’s Further Education Capital Transformation Fund. 

Luminate Education Group is a collection of six education providers based in the Leeds City Region and also includes Leeds City College, Leeds Conservatoire, Keighley College, University Centre Leeds and Leeds Sixth Form College.

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Business Breakfast: New Harrogate College campus to include facilities to boost technical skills

Excellence deserves to be recognised and celebrated. The 2024 Stray Ferret Business Awards is the event to put your business, people or great initiative in the spotlight!

Make the most of your efforts by reading our top 10 tips for writing your submission for success.

Entries close on January 19, 2024.

A new campus building at Harrogate College is set to include a mock hospital ward and children’s nursery to offer more technical skills to students.

Work on the £20 million building on Hornbeam Park is set to start in 2024.

Principal Danny Wild said the new campus would also include a range of digital technology facilities, which will enable the college to offer technical training expertise.

Mr Wild met with North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for education, learning and skills, Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, and assistant director for education and skills, Amanda Newbold, to explain more about the project this week.

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.”

Harrogate company makes £10,000 donation to White Rose Forest

A Harrogate company has donated £10,000 to the White Rose Forest.

Belzona, which is located on Claro Road, made the donation as part of its charitable initiatives.

Staff at Belzona making the donation to the White Rose Forest.

Staff at Belzona making the donation to the White Rose Forest.

The firm has worked closely with the community forest, volunteering to collect acorns and grow trees which will be planted in the local area.

Staff at Belzona were able to fundraise £5,000 for the White Rose Forest through a range of events, including climbing the Yorkshire Three Peaks, participating in The Great North Run, and hosting a Virtual Race Night. 

The company’s directors pledged to match the raised amount. As a result, their contribution of an additional £5,000 brought the total donation amount to £10,000. 

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Andy’s Man Club to open Harrogate branch

A new branch of Andy’s Man Club is set to open in Harrogate in January.

The male suicide prevention charity, which hosts free peer-to-peer sessions at locations across Yorkshire and the north of England, will open at Harrogate College.

The weekly sessions will begin on Monday, January 22, at 7pm and are open to men aged 18 and over.

The

branch has received the backing of Emmerdale actor Dominic Brunt, who plays Paddy Kirk in the soap.

He said:

“I’m overjoyed to let you know that there’s a new Andy’s Man Club opening in Harrogate, at Harrogate College.

“So see you there: it’s ok to talk.”

The arrangements for the new branch were led by Neil Waine, who appeared in an episode of Emmerdale earlier this year when the storyline focused on men’s mental health, and saw ‘Paddy’ seek out a local Andy’s Man Club for help.

The aim of the sessions are for men to talk through their issues and help each other deal with their mental health.

Mr Waine, who is project development champion at Andy’s Man Club, said:

“We are really excited to get going in Harrogate and delighted with the college’s support.

“We have been trying to open here for roughly twelve months and once we had the right team in place it was time to find a venue.”

The charity was founded by Elaine Roberts and Luke Ambler after Andrew Roberts, Elaine’s son and Luke’s brother-in-law, took his own life aged 23 in 2016.

It held its first session in Halifax, Andrew’s hometown, and now helps to support more than 3,000 men on a weekly basis at more than 150 locations.

For more information on the Harrogate branch, follow them on Facebook here or email info@andysmanclub.co.uk.

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Can my child go to university without A levels? Your T Levels questions answered

This story is sponsored by Harrogate College.

What does the term ‘T Levels’ mean to you? Work experience? A government initiative? Gobbledygook? If it’s the latter, you’re not alone. Even though most parents and carers of teenagers will have heard about T Levels, many will struggle to tell you what this technical qualification is about. 

In this article, we get down to basics by answering the most common questions people ask about T Levels.

What is a T Level?

A T Level is a technical qualification that is the equivalent level as an A level. One T Level is the same size as three A levels due to the breadth and depth of learning it offers students in a specific area. A single T Level also provides the same amount of UCAS points as three A levels, providing students with another post-16 pathway to university.

T Levels vs A levels, which is better?

Neither. T Levels and A levels are both valid choices for post-GCSE study, they both require the same level of academic acumen. The crucial difference is that T Levels have a technical focus and include a work placement, whilst A levels are theoretical. 

Whether studying a T Level is right for your child will depend on whether they want to focus on a specific subject in depth, or study a broader range of subject areas.

Can you progress to university with a T Level?

Yes, just like A levels, T Levels were designed as a route to higher education. The key thing to remember is that a single T Level provides the same amount of UCAS points as three A levels. This means that anyone who prefers to study a more hands-on course will still walk away with the right amount of points needed for entry to university. 

Okay, so which universities accept T Levels?

You can find out which universities accept T Levels by checking the entry requirements on their website. Many universities now offer T Level applicants equal consideration on degree applications, including Russell Group institutions like  the University of York, University of Warwick and King’s College London. 

However, due to its technical nature, you may find that a university might accept a T Level as an entry qualification for one degree, but not another. For example, a student could apply for an undergraduate degree in environmental science, but not mathematics. Fortunately, colleges can advise your child further based on their chosen progression route.

How many subjects do you study on a T Level?

Students study one subject on a T Level. Although studying multiple subjects is helpful for those who are still making up their minds about the future, if your child already knows what they’d like to pursue, a T Level will allow them to specialise sooner.

This was the case for Claire, a student in one of Harrogate College’s 2022 cohorts. “When my tutor told me about the T Level in Digital and IT, I knew it would be perfect as tech has always been my passion. The T Level helped to expand my horizons as there were many aspects of IT I wasn’t aware of.”

Like Claire, being able to focus on and explore different aspects of a subject in detail can help 16 to 18 year olds to feel one step closer to their end goal, providing them with a headstart when it comes to building employability skills for their desired career or job role.

What subjects can you study on a T Level?

There are now 20 T Level subjects in total, but the subjects colleges choose to deliver depends on a couple of factors. The first is the local and regional industry demand for that subject, as well as the amount of tutors and employers available for the necessary teaching and work experience elements. 

What are the T Levels at Harrogate College?

We offer students a choice of T Levels in Business, Engineering, Education and Childcare, Health, or Digital and IT. Students who successfully complete a T Level at Harrogate College will receive a nationally recognised qualification that readies them for higher education or employment. 

Why does a T Level have a work experience element?

To provide students with real-world skills. Take a T Level in Childcare, for example. A T Level Education and Childcare student will spend the academic year familiarising themselves with the fundamentals of the sector – child development, safeguarding, behavioural management and so on. They will also spend one day a week, for 45 weeks, putting what they’ve learnt into practice on a compulsory work experience placement, usually in a nursery or early years setting. This combination of practical and theoretical teaching equips learners with hands-on skills and knowledge they can build upon, which is the hallmark of technical education. 

Will T Levels eventually be scrapped because of the new Advanced British Standard?

No, the government’s recent announcement about a major reform of post-16 qualifications in England will see both T Levels and A levels merge into a single, new qualification. The hope is it will enable students to study a mix of technical and academic qualifications, providing better flexibility for future choices.

Are T Levels the same as BTECs?

T Levels and BTECs are two different qualifications. In fact, some might argue that the BTEC qualification is the predecessor of a T Level. 2024 will see thirty-eight BTECs discontinued where these subjects are now taught as T Levels.

The plus side is that T Levels feature a longer work experience period than BTECs (just over six weeks compared to the usual two to three weeks), allowing students more time to gain an insight into the working world.

What happens during a T Level work placement?

During their work experience, a student will be given tasks relating to technical areas in which they need to build experience. T Level work placements are hosted by employers, who will be made aware of each student’s objectives. This is so that they can ensure the student has access to the right type of work needed for each technical area.

I’m an employer, how can I host a T Level placement?

Students are assigned a designated employer by our Employee Engagement Officer. We contact all employers we work with during the spring term of each academic year. If being a T Level work experience host is something you would like to be considered for, please contact Susan.Roberts@harrogate.ac.uk to express your interest. 

Business Breakfast: Harrogate Town agrees player development centre sponsorship

There’s not long to go until the Stray Ferret Business Club’s breakfast event on Thursday, 27 July at Banyan in Harrogate between 8-10am.

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets now by clicking or tapping here.

Harrogate Town has agreed a new sponsorship deal for its player development centre.

The club has partnered with Harrogate College to sponsor the centre for the forthcoming season.

The centre provides additional football coaching to young players from under 7s to under 17s as part of their development.

Jo Towler, commercial director at Harrogate Town, said:

“The partnership reflects our shared dedication to supporting young people and fostering their development both on and off the field.”

Danny Wild, principal at Harrogate College, said:

“Harrogate Town AFC, just like our college, is committed to giving great opportunities to the district’s young people to help them flourish and grow. Collaborating with brilliant local organisations is in our DNA, and we know that sport brings all kinds of benefits – physical, mental and social – to those involved.”

Harrogate IT company forecasts improved revenue despite results delay

A Harrogate IT company has said it anticipates an increase in revenue despite a delay in publishing its year-end results.

Redcentric, which is based on Otley Road, was due to publish its report on July 19, but announced a delay to allow the company’s auditors to complete “the finalisation of the results”.

However, in a trading update, it said it expects revenue to increase to £141.8m in line with its forecast in April this year.

The figure would be an increase on £93.3 million at the end of 2022.

The move comes as Peter Brotherton, chief executive of Redcentric, said in January that he expected the firm to capitalise on an “enlarged customer base and increased breadth of products and service”.

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate Town announces community scheme sponsor

Harrogate Town has announced Blossom Homecare as sponsors of its community programme.

The homecare provider, which covers Ripon and Harrogate, has agreed to sponsor the club’s Talk of the Town scheme.

The sessions, which are run by Harrogate Town AFC Community Foundation, are aimed at reducing social isolation and improving both physical and mental wellbeing by bringing people together in a welcoming and safe environment.

Joanne Towler, commercial director at Harrogate Town, said:

“The collaboration with Blossom Homecare brings invaluable expertise and resources to the programme. As a trusted provider of homecare services,

“Blossom Homecare can contribute their knowledge in promoting health, well-being, and community outreach. Through their involvement, the partnership can further expand its reach and impact, offering assistance to those in need and facilitating meaningful connections.”

More than 100 businesses sign up to Harrogate College network

More than 100 employers have signed up to Harrogate College’s employers’ network.

The network was set up to help create a direct link between businesses and the college to help tailor work and training opportunities for students.

Danny Wild, principal of Harrogate College.

Danny Wild, principal of Harrogate College.

Now, the scheme has 103 members – a four fold increase since its first meeting in 2021.

Danny Wild, principal at Harrogate College, said:

“It’s fantastic to see the network growing so fast. To have gained more than 100 members in under two years is a real achievement – and a sign that we’re building something special here.

“The feedback we gain from businesses is invaluable and helps us identify and address any gaps in our courses, so we can keep ahead of the curve in terms of meeting emerging training needs.

“Our students also benefit from meeting employers when they come along to support our events, like recruitment fairs, or give guest talks – and this in turn helps them secure work placements or apprenticeships.”

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Refugee organises Afghanistan Day at Harrogate College

Harrogate College is hosting its first Afghanistan Day next Tuesday.

The college is seeking to shine a light on Afghan culture in a variety of forms. Artwork and traditional dress will be on display, and poems and songs will be performed throughout the day.

There will also be traditional Afghan food available for a small fee to raise money for women’s healthcare and education.

Afghan refugee Sabreyah Nowrozi is organising the festivities.

Sabreyah said:

“I think most people just know about the war and troubles we’ve had in Afghanistan, but this day will be a chance to show the other side and share information about our culture and the country’s positive qualities.”

Sabreyah is currently studying English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) at Harrogate college after being forced to flee the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2021.

She was captain of the Afghan women’s development football team, so was targeted by the Taliban which has banned all women from playing sports.

Sabreyah said her escape was fraught with danger due to the numerous Taliban checkpoints. She managed to flee with help from former captain of her team Khalida Popal, Leeds United F.C and a flight funded by Kim Kardashian.

She has since managed to continue her footballing career at Harrogate Town AFC Women.

Now with herself and her family settled in the UK, she has set her sights on a psychology course at the University of York.

Afghanistan Day on 13 June comes just before refugee week beginning June 19. The theme selected for this year is compassion.

If you are interested in booking a free place at Afghanistan Day click here.

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Artists throw open studio doors for region-wide exhibition

Artists across the district will be showing off their work over the first two weekends of June as part of the annual North Yorkshire Open Studios (NYOS) event. 

Around 140 professional creatives working in every visual medium will open their studios right across the county, to promote and sell their work direct to the public in what has become one of the major events in the region’s cultural calendar. 

One of them is Boroughbridge-based Andrea Mosey, who started painting during lockdown after finding her daughter’s old art materials. Since then, she has won this year’s British Contemporary Art award and routinely sells her paintings for up to £1,000. Her studio is in the grounds of Newby Hall, and visitors can access it free of charge over the open studio weekends. She said: 

“It’s a lovely light-filled studio with huge picture windows, and I’ll have art for every different kind of budget, ranging from small fine art cards to prints to large oil paintings.” 

Curlew, a painting by artsist Jo Garlick, who is based near Masham.

Curlew by Jo Garlick, who is based near Masham and will be exhibiting over the first two weekends of June.

Harrogate College will also be opening up for its own NYOS exhibition, featuring new work by students on its two-year, part-time MA Creative Practice degree course. 

Dr Annabel Smith, programme manager in MA Creative Practice at Harrogate College, said:

“Our MA students come from all walks of life and are often retiring or looking at switching direction and wanting to build on previous artist practice. This degree offers them a great way to change pathways and perhaps launch a new career, or just focus totally on their creative practice. 

“The overriding motivation seems to be to grasp the chance of a new start by setting off in a really creative direction. 

“The students consistently impress us by the quality of the art they produce, across so many mediums – and we can’t wait for the public to come and see some of their outstanding work at this exhibition.” 

The NYOS exhibition’s first weekend will take place on Saturday, June 3 and Sunday 4, and the second will be on Saturday, June 10 and Sunday 11. 

The Harrogate College MA students’ work will be available to view on campus each day from 10am to 5pm.

To find out how and where to view work by the 140 other featured artists, visit the North Yorkshire Open Studios website. 

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Harrogate College sets 2035 carbon neutral target

Harrogate College has pledged to become net zero by 2035.

The college, which is based on Hornbeam Park, has made the commitment as part of Luminate Education Group’s drive to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

It aims to reduce its carbon footprint by building a new campus building in Harrogate, which will include energy-efficient, electric-based heating systems.

The college has also pledged to publish annual updates on its progress towards net zero.

Danny Wild, principal at Harrogate College, said:

“Climate change and ecological destruction are some of the biggest challenges of our time and education providers, like all institutions, have a responsibility to play their part by cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

“The government’s target for the UK to reach net zero is 2050, but here at Harrogate College we’re aiming to do so much sooner.”

He added:

“Key to achieving this will be the £20m project we have lined up to replace our campus building at Harrogate. This will allow us to build a sustainable, purpose-built facility, focused on technical and vocational education, that will incorporate energy-efficient, electric-based heating systems.

“We are also recycling materials as much as possible across every single one of our courses, while looking into ways of generating our own energy and introducing a sustainable travel plan.”

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The pledge comes as the college was awarded £16 million from the government to replace its main building on Hornbeam Park.

It means the Harrogate district will get a new a purpose-built space for technical and vocational education.

The new energy-efficient building will include a workshop providing facilities aligned to industry needs. It will complement the college’s existing tech centre, which is home to its motor vehicle, electrical, joinery and welding workshops.

An existing £4 million budget will be used to pay for the demolition of the old college building.