Member Article

North East festive focus with: Darren Hankey, Hartlepool College

Darren Hankey, Principal at Hartlepool College of Further Education, joins us for a December Q and A, reflecting on 2016 and sharing his thoughts on the year ahead.

If you had to choose one thing - what are you most proud of your company achieving this year, why?

It’s been a challenging year for many reasons, but we have continued to perform well. Our biggest achievement is an easy one to pick, however.

We were rated as the second best apprenticeship provider of all of the FE colleges in England. That makes us the top performer in the North, and that is something that everyone connected with the College is extremely proud of. It is testament to the excellent relationships we have with the various companies we provide apprentices to.

What was the single biggest challenge faced by your firm in 2016?

Again, that’s an easy one. Austerity. There have been so many austerity measures brought in by the Government and it has been a really difficult time for everyone in the Further Education sector. It is a difficult job to maintain high standards which are nationally recognised while at the same time looking at balance sheets to deal with cuts.

Can you tell us one thing your business is doing in 2017 that really excites you?

We want to continue to provide high quality education and training to our learners, as well as a superb service to the employers who trust us to train their apprentices. We deal with some of the biggest employers in the region, and have some tremendous success stories of students who have joined a firm as an apprentice and really made their mark to the benefit of their employer.

Apprenticeships went out of fashion a little bit at one stage, but people are starting to realise that they offer a viable option to going to university.

Which North East firm has impressed you the most this year, why?

That’s a tough question because there are far too many to choose from. We have had to deal with our own issues as previously mentioned, but it has also been a tough time in so many other sectors. Look at the oil and gas sector as an example.

But businesses have adapted to the conditions and so many of them are thriving now. I’ll namecheck some that we provide apprentices to. Altec Engineering, Gestamp Tallent, NSK and JDR Cables are all performing extremely well in the face of tough trading conditions.

Are there any emerging businesses in the region that’ve caught your eye this year that you’ve been previously unaware of?

We linked up with a company called Heir Hunter UK earlier this year, and I’ve been really impressed with them. They specialise in tracking down long-lost relatives and finding the rightful recipients of estates when someone passes away.

It’s a real niche market, but the management team there have recognised the opportunity for growth and they have started an ongoing recruitment process which sees students from the College working on traineeships. They learn about the job in a way which is specially tailored around this particular business, and if they do well then there is a genuine opportunity for them to carve out a good career.

It’s an interesting role, and one which moves away from the traditional areas that you normally associate with apprentices. I’m sure there will be plenty of other firms in different markets who flourish in 2017.

Is there an industry or sector of the North East business community which you expect to really take off next year?

That’s another interesting question. I mentioned engineering firms who have done well in a previous question, and I think they will continue to thrive.

But I also look at areas like advanced manufacturing, the energy sector in general, and digital businesses.

It is good to see so many businesses really embracing the digital age. Some were a bit sceptical at first, but they’re realising that there are so many benefits from spending time on the digital side of things.

What was your first job?

I had a paper round when I was 11, which was fun. I have no idea how much I got paid for that, but I’m guessing it wasn’t that much. I always thought my first job would be a footballer. I played for Leicester schoolboys and was quite decent. I had a few trials here and there but never quite made it.

If you weren’t doing what you do, is there a job you’d love to have?

I’ve always fancied being a travel writer. It is something which has always appealed to me, flying around the world, staying in five star hotels and dining out at the best restaurants. Oh, and getting paid for it. That sounds good to me.

What do you do on Christmas Day?

Spend it with my wonderful family. I’m really looking forward to it, it’s been a tough year and it will be nice to relax, enjoy a nice dinner and see what Santa has brought for the kids.

Thank you Darren.

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