Gary Warke, Hull College Group Deputy Chief Executive and Deputy Principal, said a report recently commissioned by the college demonstrated the potential socio-economic benefits of further education colleges, including higher earnings for learners, return on investment for taxpayers and increased productivity for businesses in the region.

“The report showed that Hull College’s annual activities account for £149.4 million in income in the Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire economy through the college’s local purchases, the spending of learners who come from outside the region, and through the increase in the skill base of the local workforce,” said Mr Warke.

“Harrogate College, as part of the Hull College Group, plays a vital role within the region, offering further and higher education opportunities to provide a highly skilled workforce,” he added, revealing plans for a closer working relationship between the college and local employers.

“The college will seek to develop existing employer engagement groups to raise awareness of its Business Training Solutions programme and develop a partnership approach to working with local employers and employer advisory boards which will influence the development of new curriculum to meet the needs of local and regional industry.”

Harrogate College’s Business Training Solutions, formerly known as Harrogate Business Enterprises, offers a range of accredited programmes to support businesses as well as bespoke training solutions to meet the needs of employers. Training programmes are offered within the college’s newly re-furbished training rooms, or can be delivered in-house on organisation’s premises.

Mr Warke said the Hull College Group record of employer engagement was “exemplary”.

Current training programmes include workforce training in co-operation with organisations including BMW, P&O Ferries, BAE Systems and British Petroleum.

The college’s partnership with BP and the development of the Quartz Training Programme has been recognised by the BP Helios Award.

Responsibility for education and training at Harrogate College transfered from Leeds Metropolitan University to Hull College on August 1, moving it from the higher education to the further education sector.

Hull College was rated “outstanding” in all categories in its most recent Offsted report and Mr Warke said the change would allow Harrogate to attract funding for new capital projects.

He said a recently completed £30m refurbishment of Hull College meant the team was well placed to set plans in motion that would “transform” the Hornbeam Park site in Harrogate.

The preferred option is to revamp the main building and relinquish the lease on buildings B and C. An application for support from the Learning and Skills Council for the new building, which would accommodate all the college's facilities, will be made early next year.