Member Article

Government names Hartlepool College of Further Education top for North East apprenticeships once again

Hartlepool College of Further Education has been named the number one apprenticeship provider in the North East once again.

The Government’s National Achievement Rate table placed the College in the number one spot for all General Further Education Colleges in the North East, ensuring Hartlepool kept its Top 10 status nationally for the seventh year running.

With an Ofsted ‘outstanding’ grade for apprenticeships to support the recent Department for Education results, the league placing came as no surprise to Darren Hankey, Principal and Chief Executive of Hartlepool College of Further Education.

He said: “We are extremely proud of our apprenticeship achievement rates.

“It is really pleasing to have a successful year but what is more pleasing is to see that success sustained over many years, a feat that is not achieved alone.

“We are grateful to the wonderful business partners we work with that create these fantastic apprenticeship opportunities.”

In addition to the being ranked number one college in the North East for apprenticeships, Hartlepool College of FE scored high in several other measures with Level 3 apprenticeships ranked first nationally for timely achievement.

Gary Riches, Head of Employer Services at the College, commented: “The majority of our apprenticeship provision is delivered at Level 3 and in sectors such as Engineering, Manufacturing, Construction and Business Management services.

“We are fortunate to work with such great companies that really invest in their staff, this makes a real positive impact and contributes to our continued success.”

Hartlepool College of Further Education currently trains over 800 apprentices working in over 350 local, regional and national organisations.

The apprenticeship provision at the College ranges in level and duration from 12-month Level 2 qualifications to higher and degree apprenticeships.

At its most recent apprenticeship open event, the College attracted hundreds of potential apprentices to meet with over 80 business partners, ranging from small to medium enterprises to international giants such as Caterpillar, Unipres and Gestampt Tallent.

Further emphasising the attraction to high quality apprenticeship opportunities.

Gary added: “We are witnessing a real growth in apprenticeship with more employers committing to develop their own skilled workforce.

“More and more people, of all ages, are attracted to the many benefits of an apprenticeship programme and we believe that with our track record of outstanding achievement rates and vast experience of apprenticeships we can really help employers and apprentices succeed.”

Hartlepool College was recently shortlisted for both the UK Apprenticeship Award and Further Education College of the Year at the Educate North Awards 2019.

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