Life Magazine

A guide to the new Hartlepool College of Further Education, enrolling now!

life College

Inside: Something for Everyone: an exclusive taste of the new Hartlepool College From the Archives: images from days gone by Business Plan: a look at some of the exciting partnerships with businesses and employers And much, much more

Hartlepool College of Further Education

All Change: we say a fond goodbye to the old Hartlepool College, and a big hello to the new

This publication Š2011 Hartlepool College of Further Education. All materials correct at time of going to print. Details may change without notice.

Excellence in Further and Higher Education

Contents 4 Food at HCFE 6 An Environment Friendly Friendly Environment 8 Learning Core Values / The Facilities You Want 10 A Bit of a History 12 Outward Bound - the College’s external facilities 14 Open for Business 18 STEM - the Future of Hartlepool College 20 Learning & Living 22 Space for Everyone 24 Fit for Purpose / This Sporting Life 26 A Real Team Effort 28 A World Class College 30 Conference Centre and Commercial Services

Welcome to the new Hartlepool College Six years and £53 million in the making, the new Hartlepool College stands on the site of our traditional campus on Stockton Street in the heart of the town centre.

Contacting Hartlepool College 01429 295000 enquiries@hartlepoolfe.ac.uk Or you can find us online by searching for “Hartlepool College” or “HCFE”

More spacious, brighter, greener and more advanced than our previous building, the new College has been designed with a huge amount of input from students, industry and business partners to provide the very best resources for education, training, business and lifestyle.

This magazine is intended to give you a taste of the new Hartlepool College and provide you with an invitation to come along and find out much more.

Appy Days Got a Smartphone or iPad 2? Scan here to download the College’s free App for iOS and Android.

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College life

“The FE could stand for Food and Entertaining” So said one visitor who was attending the College for a meeting and sampled lunch in our Bistro.

Hartlepool College has a long history of training people to prepare and serve food, originating with fairly relaxed cookery courses in the 1960s right through to training chefs and front-of-house staff in “live” environments for the high-pressure, high-precision world of professional restaurants and hotels.

Come Dine With Us With a restaurant, a food court and two cafés, Hartlepool College has plenty to offer when it comes to eating and drinking.

The Flagship Restaurant is the successor to the College’s Gray’s Bistro, an innovative Les Routiers accredited training kitchen and restaurant built in 1993 to offer service sector students a chance to gain practical experience in preparing and serving food for paying customers in a live environment.

The Flagship Restaurant was designed with the experience gained from operating Gray’s Bistro for nearly two decades, and also on advice from our many partners in the restaurant sector, such as restraunteur Krimo Boubda of Krimo’s, Casa del Mar and Portofino fame. The intention was to create not only a superb training environment for students, but also a topflight restaurant for use by the public.

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Top: The College’s cookery facilities, circa 1965, modelled around domestic kitchens to meet the demands of the time Centre: Nowadays student chefs work in an industry-specification training kitchen Bottom: Hospitality students gaining practical experience while working a function on board HMS Trincomalee

The Flagship R

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The Flagship Restaurant, pictured above during final fitting out, is open evenings and weekends, and at certain times of the year offers an alfresco dining experience

Although part of the College, the eightyseater Flagship Restaurant is also open evenings and weekends. Fully licensed, it has been designed to reflect the high quality of its food and service.

Spacious and welcoming, with warm earth-tones, subtle lighting and elegant furnishings, The Flagship is more akin to a hotel or city centre restaurant of the kind found in London, Leeds or Edinburgh, but with prices that make fine dining much more affordable.

In addition, direct access from the restaurant to a large exterior terrace offers an alfresco dining experience at certain times of the year.

Coffee Rapport @ the FE, prominently located in the Reception Atrium, is run by Café Rappor, the team behind the hugely successful Black Olive and North Star.

Summer 2011

College Snapshots Hartlepool College offers a lot - much more, in fact, than we could easily fit into a magazine of this size. To help you get a better picture of just how much we do offer, throughout this publication are pictures highlighting the impressive range of opportunities, facilities and activities currently open to you (like the Hartlepool United Cookery Challenge).

Under the guidance of lecturers and guest chefs, College students have built up a reputation for food excellence

Coffee Rapport @ the FE is located in the Reception Atrium of the College, and is operated by Mark and Neil Evans, owners of some of the town’s favourite establishments.

Neil Evans who owns Café Rappor, the Black Olive and North Star on the Marina with his cousin, Mark, went on to explain, “Anyone will be able to pop into the atrium from 8am till 8pm any day of the week. We’re delighted that the College wanted to work with us and that we can bring our special talents of barista making to a wider audience.”

Above: Debbie Caygill, Director of Comercial Operations Below: Mark Evans and Neil Evans of Cafe Rappor with College Principal Michael Bretherick

From the Archives As we prepared to move out of the old College, we unearthed a large amount of archived pictures extending back over the four decades the original building was in operation. Featured throughout this magazine are some of our favourite trips down memory lane, such as the one below from 1965.

Debbie Caygill, Head of Comercial Operations, said “Mark and Neil’s enthusiasm will add a new and different dimension to the College’s offer”.

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A Permanent Reminder of Safety at Work...

The College features many exhibitions and points of interest, from art and photography, to a restored car and piano, to examples of engineering and digital innovation.

However, what many consider to be the most poignant of these displays can be found on the second floor the Tree of Remembrance.

Hartlepool College has for several years been actively involved in commemorating Workers’ Memorial Day each April 28th, alongside local trade unions and the trade council.

On top of an annual service, it has now added an impressive steel memorial sculpture to its means of honouring that date. Standing 4.5m tall it features 300 metal leaves, each inscribed with the names of those who have been injured or lost their lives at work.

Left to right: Jeff Hedley of Miller Construction, Jackie Donley of Hartlepool College, Edwin Jeffries of the TUC and Cliff Chapman of Clifford Chapman Metalworks examine a model of the Tree’s frame.

An Environment Friendly Friendly Environment At Hartlepool College it isn’t only students who are constantly learning - the building is too. Sophisticated self-monitoring environmental systems and controls allow it to optimise interior conditions for maximum efficiency at minimum energy.

In an era of climate change, effective use of energy in our homes and businesses is more important than ever before. Most people agree that we need to reduce our impact on the environment and reduce the use of non-renewable energy sources, and this something that was designed into the College from the very outset.

While to some the “green agenda” is a bandwagon, the College has a firm commitment to environmental concerns and technologies. This isn’t just because we care about the planet, though of course we do, but also because these are important growth areas that we wanted to be able to help businesses and students take full advantage of.

Working in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Centre, City of Sunderland College and Redcar and

Edwin Jeffries, President of Hartlepool Trades Council, said ‘It has been fantastic to work with the College to promote understanding of health and safety, and remember people who, sadly, have lost their lives at work. This iconic sculpture will be promoted to trade unions in every country.”

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The new College has a vast array of equipment hidden from general view, but working to miminise the amount of energy the building consumes.

Cleveland College, HCFE will provide a regional service offering the very best advice and guidance about training opportunities in this sector.

Employers and students who seek to take advantage of this emerging new sector will be able to access the highest quality training through the National Skills Academy (see next page), and also have access to the equipment actually in use “out in the field”.

Further to this concept, our Environmental Technologies Centre also looks out onto an 865m2 learning terrace which hosts these technologies out in the elements exactly where engineers will need to deal with installation, repair and maintenance.

With Hartlepool’s changeable weather, no doubt every possible eventuality and challenge can be addressed!

The open-air Learning Terrace ensures that resources such as photovoltaic cells can be used exactly where intended - under the elements.

Summer 2011

Energy Matters The nature of energy technology is constantly evolving and improving, with intelligent and eco-friendly systems redefining the skills needed to work in the sector on a regular basis. Hartlepool College works closely with the energy industry to ensure that the skills we deliver and the hardware we use are those used in the sector.

Natural light is a major feature of the College building

We have the Skills (Academies) Arguably any college or training provider can introduce an academy, but not many can truly call themselves a National Skills Academy. NSA accreditation isn’t easy to get: it takes hard work, investment and a dedication to delivering the best possible training in the best possible environment. Some places have one, maybe two. Hartlepool College has four, including the only Environmental Technologies Academy in the North East, which is one of only fourteen nationally.

From the Archives Before World War 2 the current site of Hartlepool College was used for housing, however, heavy bombing damage led to its clearance. This view of the College in the 1960s shows just how close it is to the industrial facilities behind it that made the area such as target.

As a major hub for National Skills Academies, the logos to the right are a guarantee of excellence applies to training and education.

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The Book Club

Learning Core Values For many people the word “library” creates an image of lots of dusty books and monotonous, silent study. At Hartlepool College however, nothing could be further from the truth!

In fact, while you’ll find plenty of books (17,000 actually, though not any dusty ones), the College’s Learning Core is a hive of technology and activity to the point where the word “library” seems to hardly sum up the amount it offers.

When Martin Old published his first book last year – a guide for ‘A’ Level students on John Fowles’ The French Lieutenant’s Woman, he joined another seven colleagues at Hartlepool College whose books were published in paper and electronic formats during the academic year.

Praise for Martin’s book came from no higher source than the John Fowles Website itself which described the book as “outstanding”. Martin, a leading national figure in A Level English education due his role as Principal Examiner and Moderator, published his second ‘A’ Level book in April this year, on Shakespeare’s King Lear.

Other published authors from Hartlepool College of Further Education are engineers Neil Godfrey, Michael Casey, Anthony King and Steve Wallis who joined together to publish a BTEC Diploma Engineering text book for Hodder Education, while David Roberts contributed to a BTEC National Level book for Pearson.

Mark Elliott and Richard Peacock complete the team of writers having contributed to an e-learning package, also for Hodder Education.

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The new Learning Core is a space to study between lessons, at a student’s own pace and with all the resources students are likely to need. It is much bigger than the Learner Resource Centre that was found in the old College, extending up through three floors at the rear of the building.

Each floor has a suite of dedicated PCs, some 115 in total, and free wi-fi access allows students to use their own laptops, smartphones and tablets.

There are also over 400 e-books available via the E-brary Service, with new publications being added on a weekly basis.

Specialist equipment and desks for students with mobility difficulties are available throughout the entire facility, plus individual study desks and small tables where students can work in groups.

There are also comfortable soft seating areas where students can relax and read the many newspapers, magazines and periodicals available, or simply take in one of the panoramic views of Hartlepool while waiting to speak one of the members of staff located on the central help desks.

The Facilities You Wanted You naturally expect a college to get its teaching and learning resources right, but Hartlepool College has spent just as much time and effort on developing its social spaces and facilities.

The simple fact is that most students enrolled at the College spend much more time here than just those sessions marked in on their timetable. The College talked to and surveyed our student population extensively while designing the new building to find out what they would like to make those times as comfortable, convenient and enjoyable as possible. The results were collated and implemented where practical into a number of exciting and innovative features.

The Food Court, located on the Ground Floor

Summer 2011

Fun and Games The College supports a great deal of local and national charities, and events such as Comic Relief, Sport Relief and Children in Need which often inspires its students to give up their time, and occasionally dignity, to earn some money for worthy causes. Recent events have included a raft challenge at the Marina, several fun runs, and and an It’s A Knockout style assault course.

The Learning Core as seen from the rear of the College - the upper levels offer impressive views of Hartlepool (below)

A large central Food Court on the ground floor, serving a variety of meals and snacks; A three-level comprehensive Learning Core; A café for Skills Academy students, so that they don’t have to use up parts of their break time changing in and out of their protective equipment; Bicycle racks, showers and changing facilities for students who cycle to the College; A fitness centre, spa and hair and beauty salons; For the first time in the College’s history, student car parking will be available;

From the Archives The College has now been dealing with advanced technology so long that some of it is now considered to be suitable for museums. This is a typical 1980s computer suite. A basic USB memory stick could now be used to back up the amount of data these machines could hold at least several thousand times over...

Free Wi-Fi throughout the building, and numerous soft seating areas (example left); Exhibitions of art, photography, sculpture and technology, plus communal TV areas.

One of many soft furnishing “chill out” areas.

A free App for iOS and Android phones, with information alerts and a GPS-enabled map.

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Different tools for changing times

A Bit of A History

When the original purposebuilt Hartlepool College was commissioned in the early 1960s, the designs were presented in the form of visualisations such as the one below, rendered in ink and watercolour. As neat as it is, it still required imagination on the part of the client, and any changes meant starting all over again to create new images.

Given the College’s constant evolution to keep its courses and facilities at the cutting edge of the skills people need, it’s unsurprising that many people think it’s a fairly recent addition to Hartlepool. In fact, we go back a surprisingly long way...

Modern architects and designers, however, while needing the same high level of skill, have the tools to present their ideas as fully textured 3D computer images, including animations, fly-throughs and the time-saving ability to make changes quickly and easily.

1849 West Hartlepool Mechanics Institute and Library is opened on the Headland, the forerunner of Hartlepool College. It was intended to bring “reading, writing and arithmetic to the working man”. It had no connection to us but its success proved that there was a need for adult education in Hartlepool.

1897 The Municipal Technical College is opened on Lauder Street (right), with J. Woodhead as director of studies.This is the first direct ancestor of the current College, with courses including engineering, shipbuilding, commercial building, plumbing, mathematics and cookery.

1957 Viscount Hailsham, the Minister for Education approves a proposal for a new college in Hartlepool.

Timeline: some key events in Hartlepool history 640ad

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Hereteu, a monastery, becomes the first settlement on the location of Hartlepool

790-800

Vikings raid and finally destroy Hereteu, but a village soon replaces it

1068 onwards

Norman invaders turn Hartlepool into a major port and begin to expand the town

1201

King John gives Hartlepool a Royal Charter, allowing it to hold a weekly market

1831

The railway connects Hartlepool to the industrial revolution growing inland

Victorian Era

Hartlepool grows by 1000%, and becomes a centre of steel, coal and shipbuilding

1891

Elephant Rock, a limestone landmark and attraction, collapses into the sea

1908

Hartlepool United Football Club is founded

Summer 2011

1962 Phase 1 is constructed. The initial building is L-shaped and has three floors, with a fourth added at a later date on the east side of the “L”.

1965 Phase 2 is constructed, mostly in the form of additional workshops to meet anticipated demand.

1968 The College of Further Education Hartlepool as it is initially know is completed.

1993 The College is Incorporated.

Work begins on two new extensions, CAVET (Centre for Vocational Education and Training, a technology centre, pictured below) and CESIT (Centre for Excellence in Service Industry Training, featuring a bistro, hair and beauty salons). These would later be named The Ralph Ward Jackson and Sir William Gray Centres.

1999 Peter Mandelson MP opens a new dedicated £1.2 million Business Development Centre on the ground floor of the College, dedicated to providing businesses with training, resources and services.

2003-2005 The College undergoes an extensive modernisation of its interior, including a new refectory, engineering facilities, courtyard cafe, conference centre and reception area.

From the Archives The sort of weather our Environmental Technology students might face on the Learning Terrace also greeted the Rt. Hon. Edward Short MP, Secretary of State for Education and Science, when he officially opened the College in April 1969. College staff were quickly able to come up with a suitable solution!

2006-2011 New Build planned and built

by Miller Construction, on schedule for opening to the public on 22nd August 2011.

1969 The College is opened by the Rt. Hon. Edward Short (see right). At some point in the 1970s the name becomes Hartlepool College of Further Education.

2011 onwards You tell us...

1914

1922

1939-1942

Over 100 are killed when Hartlepool is bombarded by German warships

A fire destroys much of the docks, leading to a great redevelopment

German bombers attack Hartlepool 43 times, causing massive damage

1957

Reg Smythe creates the world-famous Hartlepool layabout Andy Capp

1979

Hartlepool begins to restore historic ships, starting with 1860’s ironclad HMS Warrior

The 1980s

Traditional industries suffer a decline, and Hartlepool seeks out new opportunities

1994 onwards

Hartlepool undergoes extensive redevelopment

2010

Hartlepool hosts the final stage of the International Tall Ships Race 2010

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Sound reasons lead to Studio rescue deal The mysterious benefactor who is saving The Studio on Tower Street was recently revealed to be a partnership between Hartlepool College of Further Education and the Cleveland College of Art and Design, who worked closely with the Administrators to work out a deal that will preserve the venue for future generations of Hartlepool people.

The Colleges are developing The Studio into a venue for students to use during the day and to be available to showcase local talent during the evening and at weekends, as well as attracting more highprofile bands. Michael Bretherick, Principal and Chief Executive of Hartlepool College commented that, “This must be seen as an opportunity for Hartlepool students

Left to right: Martin Raby, Principal of Cleveland College of Art and Design, Phil Swinburne, Chairperson of the Studio, and Michael Bretherick, Principal of Hartlepool College of Further Education

and residents and whilst it has come at a particularly hard time in terms of funding, we could not allow this iconic venue to be lost. It is with that in mind that we set about looking to draw in our partnerships and secure its future. Our own construction students will use the refurbishment of the venue as an aid in their studies whilst gaining practical experience.”

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Outward Bound While Hartlepool College has been designed to keep as much of its facilities within the same building as possible, we also make use of several satellite facilities and valuable partnerships.

One such partnership is with the team at Wynyard Park, a 700-acre business park on Teesside that works closely with Hartlepool College to offer training and business opportunities. The luxurious appointed Wynyard Rooms allow clients to meet, work and relax in an atmosphere and environment conducive to productivity and problem solving.

Located just off the junction of the A19 and A689, Wynyard Park is perfectly placed for businesses from all corners of the region, and has superb hospitality facilities.

Hartlepool College of Further Education and Hartlepool Borough Council entered into a partnership agreement in August

The College operates a part of its business support and training from Wynyard Park, just off the A19

2010 to secure the future of the Rift House Recreation Ground. This agreement will fully utilise the facilities by continuing to host weekend football fixtures and making the necessary changes needed for sports provision of the under 18s at the College following the guidance of the Football Association and Sport England.

Over £45,000 of investment has already gone into the much needed improvement of one of the changing facilities. With improved entrances and exits, new partition walls, the creation of female changing rooms and general joinery, plumbing and electrical work, this superb resource has been given a new lease of life and has proven massively popular with College students and local users.

The Rift House Sports Facility allows the College’s sports students to work on improving their game

Summer 2011

High Values at Exeter Street The High Value Engineering Centre in Exeter Street has recently been refurbished in order to increase its capacity to deliver Fabrication and Welding training to employers. The Centre has a specialist fabrication workshop together with over twenty welding bays and a new inspection and testing area. The Centre also houses an area which can deliver Fork Lift Truck training, working at heights and, very shortly, roofing qualifications.

The Northern Lights Academy is a purpose built facility run in partnership with St. Hild’s School

The Stage is set for Northern Lights When Rachael Fothergill agreed to become Centre Manager for the Northern Lights Academy adjacent to St. Hild’s School, she couldn’t have been in a more apt place - Worthy Farm in Somerset, the annual site of the Glastonbury Festival. “I’d had the interview so I was expecting to hear at some point,” Rachael said, “but it was great to get the good news in front of the main stage.”

Above: Northern Lights Academy Manager Rachael Fothergill Below: ...and at Glastonbury 2011

Rachael’s new role is the result of a partnership between Hartlepool College and St. Hilds School to ensure this impressive new facility is put to good use by the school, the College and community. Studios for digital audio recording and HD video filming are complemented by dance studios and a superb theatre. The NLA will be used by students at both organisations for mainstream curriculum but it will also be available to hire for commercial events, recording or performance.

Anyone wanting to find out more about the Northern Lights Academy, how to access the studios or the new Performing Arts courses at Hartlepool College can contact Rachael on rfothergill@hartlepoolfe.ac.uk

From the Archives The College has used offsite facilities since its very inception. This picture, taken some time in the 1980s, shows the satellite workshops at Lister Street, which were based in an old school and used for the training of construction courses. This facility was finally retired in the mid-1990s when a purpose-built construction centre was established on Brunswick Street.

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Now Departing for Success

Open for Business

When Dawson and Sanderson confirmed that it would be recruiting to a new regional Apprenticeship programme, it became the latest leading company to join the impressive list of employers who work in partnership with Hartlepool College.

Hartlepool College’s work with employers was rated as “outstanding” by Ofsted during our last inspection in 2009 the highest possible result.

Judith Malloy, Performance Development Manager, explains that the Apprenticeships are a great opportunity for potential travel agents: “Naturally it’s a very customer focused industry, so we expect the Apprentices to be superb communicators and effective ambassadors for our company – we have set the bar high with the entry requirements, but we have been inundated with applications from across the North East which is very encouraging”.

The Apprenticeship will combine block release study in various Below: Dawson and Sanderson were established in 1962, and have since dealt with over six million holidaymakers from their 21 north east branches. For more information visit www.holidayco.co.uk

Hartlepool College’s commitment to business has over many years led to the development of some outstanding commercial resources, facilities and services. Informed and evolved by decades of practical experience, keen insight and client feedback, Hartlepool launched its first dedicated Business Development Centre in 1999 at an investment of £1.2 million.

While hugely successful and popular (it was one of the last areas of the old College to close due to customer demand), the BDC was still a conversion of existing facilities. The creation of a new building allowed the College to design a new Business Centre from scratch, with impressive new facilities offering training, advice, consultancy and hire.

In the last academic year we have delivered services to nearly two thousand employers, including regional, national and international clients.

Hartlepool College doesn’t necessarily mean just working with Hartlepool companies. Recent examples of our scope and flexible approach include delivering over twenty qualifications in Suffolk to multinational biotechnology company, Genzyme; teaching renewable energies for the National Renewable centre [NaREC] in Northumberland and working in partnership with a leading Scottish college to deliver international work. The most recent venture is to a gold mine in western Africa to advise on training strategies.

locations around the North East, employment at one of the many Dawson and Sanderson branches across the region and a packed enrichment programme that will involve visits to holiday resorts.

Judith’s top tip for safe holidaying is to always use a reputable travel agent, and her favourite destinations are Thailand, Florida and Kenya.

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Our dedication to business, flexibile delivery and superior resources have won us many partners and clients

Summer 2011

It’s (not!) a Man’s World Hartlepool College is extremely proactive in encouraging females to train for professions normally associated with men - and viceversa. We feel passionately that no vocation should be beyond anybody, and certainly not because of illogical stereotyping.

Hartlepool College Apprentices have been involved in most stages of the construction of our new building

Apprenticeships - A Training Choice That Works Hartlepool College is the largest supplier of Apprenticeships in the Tees Valley and Durham, with over 500 region-wide.

For an individual an Apprenticeship isn’t just a job, it’s the first step towards a long-term career or career change. Many businesses across Britain have benefited so far from training an apprentice.

Apprenticeships focus on the whole working spectrum, not just individual skills. Apprentices learn through a combination of ’on and off the job’ education and training. On the job you will work alongside other employees and the rest you learn from the College specialists.

make organisations more effective, competent, productive and competitive by addressing skills gaps directly. They are designed to help employees get the skills needed for businesses to succeed.

Apprenticeships offer a fantastic range of training in almost every business sector.

Not only school leavers are eligible but those who may have been previously employed. The College can also assign individuals who are already experienced to their chosen vocational sector.

From the Archives Apprenticeships have always been a large part of the College’s provision, and our reputation has regularly been boosted some amazing, often prize winning work. This spectacular brickwork for Yuills in the 1980s was one elephant in a room that had everybody talking about it...

For employers, Apprenticeships can 15

College life

At long last... ...the wait is almost over, as the final details are added to the College as it is readied for its August opening!

Dwarfing over the old building, the new Hartlepool College began to rise in early 2010, and the keys were handed to the College from construction firm Miller in July 2011. Since then an army of people have been working to install all of its features, furniture and technology.

It’s been a mammoth task requiring both grand scope and very fine attention to detail, but finally Hartlepool College is ready for business.

But the opening of the new College doesn’t mean that everything that needs doing is done. From September 2011 demolition work will begin on the old building, followed by an extensive landscaping project due to finish in 2012 as the ground on which it stood is converted into a large car park and College grounds.

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Award-winning Apprenticeships Hartlepool College does not necessarily mean Hartlepool companies. To become the largest Apprenticeship provider in the Tees Valley and Co. Durham means that the College works with hundreds of regional companies in many sectors including health, sport, business and law, horticulture, IT, hospitality, catering, beauty therapy and hairdressing.

Locally the support for Apprenticeship training is as strong as ever with Vela Group (formally Hartlepool Housing and Tristar Homes), Hartlepool Borough Council and the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust confirming nearly 100 apprenticeships receiving thousands of applications.

A substantial part of the Apprenticeship offer is in engineering and construction and long-time partner companies such as Heerema, Stadium Group, Wilton Group, Gus Robinson, Huntsman Tioxide and Yuill Homes are being joined every week by high-quality companies keen to engage with Hartlepool College.

Darchem Engineering, Pearson Harper, United Biscuits ThyssenKrupp Tallent and Caterpillar [Peterlee] have all joined the Hartlepool College Apprenticeship family in the last 12 months.

STEM - the Future of the College Science. Technology. Engineering. Mathematics. Four words that bely just how important they are to the economy, health, transport, housing and just about every other aspect of our lives.

When deciding a career there should be two criteria that arguably come before all the others. The first is “will I enjoy it?” The second is “will it lead me into employment?”

In answering the latter question, consider this: statistics show that thousands of skilled scientists, technicians and engineers are set to retire in the next 10 to 15 years and there simply isn’t enough talent to replace them.

Locally, this problem is affecting the energy, process and engineering sectors.

Looking south of Seaton Carew gives you an immediate idea as to the extent of industry in the Tees Valley, and every one of those companies requires scientists,

mathematicians and engineers. And those companies are just the tip of a very big iceberg, both regionally and nationally.

An unprecedented commitment to STEM has allowed Hartlepool College to become one of the most progressive skills training areas in the region. Where else in the Tees Valley and Durham could you maintain jet fighters, a helicopter, engines from a Boeing 747 or new Nissan vehicles all under the same roof. Perhaps be among the first students nationally to work on an industrial wind turbine or the latest computer-controlled robotics or machine centres – skills that are not just enjoyable, but essential to the UK and are almost guaranteed to be in demand for years to come.

The College recently joined Caterpillar [Peterlee] when it was presented with its National Apprenticeship Award having won the North East Large Employer of the Year winner.

Assistant Principal, Steve Wallis, comments ‘we were delighted for Caterpillar [Peterlee] it was a great success to win this highly competitive award. It is a superb company with a real commitment to world class skills training ’ 18

Award winning apprenticeship company Caterpillar, Peterlee one of many leading companies which works in partnership with Hartlepool College.

Summer 2011

RAF Leeming Hartlepool College Aerospace students make frequent and highly privileged visits to RAF Leeming to work with Babcock Defence Services and RAF 100 Sqdn on the live operation of Hawk Fighters, where they are trusted to perform maintenance, testing and flightline control on these incredible fast jets, best known as the aircraft of the Red Arrows.

Aerospace Students are able to practise their skills on real aircraft in the College’s dedicated Aircraft Hangar

Lecturer Yan Talks Plane Sense Ian Founde, or Yan as he is known, is proof that outstanding teachers don’t necessarily always come from the conventional route of teacher training. A former chief in the Royal Air Force, where he specialised in aircraft electrical systems, he served with HM Forces for over 27 years. Some of these years were spent teaching at the No. 1 School of Technical Training, before retiring from an operational Tornado fighter squadron in 2002.

Never one to sit back, Yan joined the College in 2005 and his contribution to the Aircraft Engineering programme has made it one of the most popular and well-equipped in the area. Links with Babcock Defence Services, RAF Leeming, Rolls-Royce and Airbus Industrie in Toulouse provide vital “real world” experience and knowledge, something that benefits students enormously. So respected are Yan and his students that they will be showcasing at the London Worldskills event in September. This international Olympic-style competition brings together the most talented young people from around the world to compete in skills-based competitions, ranging from accountancy to computer design to construction, and Hartlepool College is one of only a handful nationally to be invited to stage a demonstration.

Gazelle Arrival The latest addition to the Hartlepool College “squadron” (which consists of three ex-RAF Jet Provosts) is a former British Army Aerospatiale Gazelle helicopter. Delivered in December 2010, the Gazelle introduced a number of advanced features to helicopter design, making it an ideal platform for Aerospace education. An idea of the helicopter’s performance can be gauged in the 1983 film Blue Thunder, where one of these nippy choppers played the title role.

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The Luminary

Learning and Living Take a stroll into The Luminary and you will be in no doubt that this is not just a place to learn, it’s also a place to develop.

The Luminary is the name given to a suite of related facilities dedicated to wellbeing and style, located on the first floor of the College’s north wing.

Imagine a spa and beauty salon where you can just escape to and truly relax and enjoy a wide range of advanced beauty treatments?

Imagine a lifestyle centre where you always feel really welcome? Where our personal training gym offers a friendly atmosphere to all ages and abilities, and where our Personal Trainers are of the highest standard and are passionate about fitness?

These were all questions the College asked itself when the idea for The Luminary was first considered - a training centre open to the public that contains a fitness suite, salons, spa and showering areas. For the more bold, there is even the cryo-bath - a chilling piece of professional equipment which plunges aching muscles into near freezing temperatures!

Imagine a lifestyle centre where you can relax and completely unwind for an hour or so in the capable hands of a hairdresser who has been trained to really listen to you and guarantees that you leave with a look that suits your face shape, hair type and lifestyle.

With experts in their fields in all of our specialist areas all you need to do is sit back and relax in our sumptuous surroundings, soak up the ambience and know that you truly are in great hands.

HEALTH. LIFE. STYLE.

Opening Times

Facilities that Speak for Themselves

The Luminary Gym Open 7 days a week from 7am until 9pm **

It has been many years since Hartlepool College had its own onsite gym facility but it’s back with a state-of-the-art set-up to rival the best gyms in the area and it’s available to to the public, too.

** Access restricted between the hours of 9am and 12 noon as a result of curriculum demands

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Summer 2011

Real Skills for Real Jobs The College firmly believes that there is no point whatsoever in teaching people things that won’t give them the skills and knowledge they need to either gain employment in their chosen area, or progress into Higher Education. Every course we run is grounded on this principle, and our success rates back up the fact that its a principle that works.

The Luminary’s treatments use the finest products, and are delivered in private, luxurious surroundings

Practise Makes Perfect Some people might be understandably a little nervous about letting a “trainee” work on their hair or skin - they needn’t be!

We know what some people think... “letting a student cut my hair!? No way!”

After all, our low prices must come with some sort of risk attached, right?

In fact, all College students are already trained to a high standard before they are allowed to work on paying customers, and are closely supervised at every step of the way to make sure nobody has any unfortunate surprises. Over the many years the College has offered hair and beauty services to the public, feedback and customer satisfaction has been universally superb.

Practice dummies allow for the fine tuning of skills

From the Archives Styles may have changed over the years, but the standard of training Hartlepool College has offered Hair and Beauty students has been a consistent factor over literally decades.

Many local salons were set up by former students, and many find a College qualification on a CV is a great way to spot talented new employees.

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College life

Design Matters There has never been a better time to study Graphic and Media Design at Hartlepool College, as four tutors look forward to opening their new studio which has been designed to their exact requirements.

With a suite of iMacs configured for specialist design, combined with workshops for the more traditional art skills, it is fitting that they are located in a wing of the new College named after a one of the most famous and creative artists of all time: Pablo Picasso.

The design team all have their own niche specialities to bring to the studio, having graduated and mastered in a range of disciplines.

Head of School, John Waddington, has a strong graphics background, Michael Thompson leads on new media while Keith Bradley and Richard Peacock are both specialists in computer aided product design.

Below: A highlight of the College year is our annual Design Show, which allows students to display their creative work to the public - and potential employers. Many visitors have likened it to the standard of a University show.

A Space for Everyone Not only is the new College much larger than the previous building, every square metre has been carefully created to maximise all that space, and put everything exactly where it needs to be rather than just a random assembly of rooms.

When the College was in the earliest of planning stages, the College’s Senior Management Team worked extensively with the College’s student population to find out exactly what they would like to see in a new building.

Based on this feedback, Principal, Michael Bretherick, was insistent that the architects work to exacting specifications rather than deliver an “off the peg” building, and that everything would be positioned where it was needed, where it was logical, and where it would work best with related areas and College-wide resources.

The result was a hub-based College centred around an Atrium that runs

through all floors, with straight wings each dedicated to related sectors extending from this core rather than a random “rabbit warren approach” of cluttered, difficult to find rooms. The College uses as much natural light as possible, and social spaces are large, comfortable and welcoming.

Main facilities such as places to eat, Customer Services and the Learning Core are all right in the middle of the building, with equally easy access from all floors. In addition, College personnel are gathered together in large Staff Centres also located at the centre of the building, making finding a tutor or member of support staff a quick and easy process.

Together they have an impressive amount of experience, with previous clients as diverse as the NHS, Lego, BMW, Aston Martin and Nokia.

The students at the College are encouraged to work on live briefs, one such example being the new College logo, known as The Luminary, which was designed by Krisit Indi, a student on the National Diploma in Art and Design and who has recently progressed to university.

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From carpet to ceiling and fittings to furnishings, every part of Hartlepool College has been carefully selected to be the best possible quality

The College created numerous opportunities for the the student community, stakeholders and partners to have their say on the new building

Summer 2011

The HE Centre

Higher Education Centre

Picasso’s Guernica Exhibition Digital Gallery

HCFE Main Campus Facilities: A Quick Guide

Upper Quadrant

Klee

Picasso

Upper Quadrant

Higher Education Centre

Counselling & Reflection Examinations Professional Development Learner Services IT Suites Marketing

Materials & Advanced Metallurgy Electronics & Embedded Design Electro-Pneumatics Industrial Automation Engineering Diploma Base Drawing Office Science Laboratories Design Services Facilities Management Staff Centre 5 Digital Gallery

Aerospace Diploma Base Apple Macintosh Studio Creative Design Studio Design Design & Media Services IT Suite Staff Centre 5 Picasso’s Guernica Exhibition

Learning Core Level 3

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The Higher Education Centre on the third floor was created in partnership with Teesside University, who invested £2 million in bringing better support and access to higher education directly to Hartlepool.

This is an amazing new feature of Hartlepool College, and one that will be a massive benefit to those with university ambitions.

Learning Core

Tree of Remembrance

Joe Cornish Photography Exhibition

Lower Quadrant

Riley

Rothko

Lower Quadrant

Learning Core

Placement Services Hot Desk Health & Care Suite IT Suites Staff Centre 3 Social & Exhibition Area Tree of Remembrance

Materials & Advanced Metallurgy Electronics & Embedded Design Electro-Pneumatics Industrial Automation Engineering Diploma Base Drawing Office Science Laboratories Design Services Facilities Management Staff Centre 4

Principal Chief Executive’s Office SCADA & Embedded Control Executive Team Clerk to the Corporation Joe Cornish Photography Gallery

Learning Core Level 2

2 From the Archives

Learning Core

Atrium Balcony

Paris 1.0

Learning Terrace

The Luminary

Skills Academy

Learning Terrace

Learning Core

Luminary Salons 1 & 2 Beauty Salons 1 & 2 Luminary Spa Luminary Fitness Suite Sports Science Staff Centre 1 Exhibition Space 2

Building Control Electrical Installation A, B, C & D Decorative Occupations Plumbing Environmental Technologies Gas Training & Gas Assessment Centres Staff Centre 2 Paris 1.0 Ball Bearing Sculpture

Environmental Technologies Terrace Outdoor Social Area

Learning Core Level 1

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In the 1960s, one of the College’s most popular courses was Advanced Build Your Own Dalek. No, of course it wasn’t, but this particular equipment was able to produce a lot of heat, albeit not in ray-gun form. This is a part of the College’s Heat Engines Laboratory, with hardware considered in the day to be extremely complicated and sophisticated (which it was!)

Flagship Restaurant Restored Car

Food Court

Skills Café

Tom Wall Art Exhibition

Restored Piano

Reception Atrium Coffee Rapport

Skills Academy Aircraft Hangar Wind Energy Fluid Power & Process Technology PPE Control Wood Occupations: Site Workshop Wood Occupations: Bench Workshop Woodworking Machine Shop Trowel Occupations Masonry Cutting Room Automotive Engineering Advanced Manufacturing Building Services

Conference Centre Customer Services Conference Rooms 1 - 5 Exhibition Space 1 Business Development IT Suite Bursar Flagship Restaurant Training Kitchen Restored Vintage Car Tom Wall Art Exhibition

Customer Services

Dining & Refreshment

Customer Services Reception Information Student Advisors Meeting Rooms Restored Piano

Flagship Restaurant Coffee Rapport Food Court Skills Café

G

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College life

This Sporting Life Head of Sport, Shaun Hope, has an ambitious vision for the teaching of sports in Hartlepool.

Now he has the resources too.

Fit for Purpose Hartlepool College has some of the best equipped facilities for sports students and enthusiasts that you’re likely to find.

Equipped with the latest state of the art cardiovascular and resistance equipment, the Luminary is the centre piece of the College’s centre for exercise, health and performance. All students, not to mention members of the public, will be able to make use of our complementary health services including individualised personal plans helping you reach your goals, regular health checks and the opportunity to take part in our group exercise classes which are perfect for those who need a little more motivation or variation in their work out.

If self-motivation is a problem then don’t worry because staff will be on hand to offer help, encouragement, and tailor your exercise programme to suit you.

Throughout each year the College will also operate fun and motivational challenges to help you target your training and achieve personal goals alongside forging new friendships and having fun.

The Luminary can also offer you a variety of additional bespoke packages including personal training, specialised courses (such as weight loss and nutritional courses), and personal profiling for elite athletes.

The College also uses the full size training grounds at Rift House to allow sports students and its student teams the chance to practise in a real environment, where fitness, tactics and stamina can be tested and enhanced to the full.

Above: Shaun Hope, Head of Sport and Public Services at Hartlepool College of Further Education.

Shaun Hope joined the College in 2007, and hit the ground running with an array of ideas for improving the Sports provision. However, while the College has access to some impressive external facilities, his vision was compromised by a lack of dedicated sports resources within the College.

The new building has given him a chance to completely reverse that situation, with the Luminary forming a stunning centrepiece where fitness, health and performance can be monitored, diagnosed and guided through a mix of technology and specialised coaching.

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Join the Club (or even use one) with our Sports Academies The College started sports academies in 2009 with basketball and football, and later added rugby to the list. Any student under the age of 19 and studying on a full-time course at HCFE can trial for an academy team, and successful athletes will benefit from 11 hours of high class coaching and performance in their sport as well as accessing support to fulfil their potential both as an athlete and a student.

The scheme has proved massively popular, and now Hartlepool College has added a Golf Academy to its list in partnership with Seaton Carew Golf Club, which provides access to its course, clubhouse and, most important, expertise.

The Golf Academy, a unique idea from Head of Sport, Shaun Hope, provides the opportunity for students to access weekly golf masterclasses with Seaton’s PGA gold professional Cliff Jackson,

Left to right: Shaun Hope of Hartlepool College and PGA Professional Cliff Jackson of Seaton Carew Golf Club

while studying an A Level or Advanced Diploma at the College. “The majority of the students at the College combine academic study with skills, and this is exactly the same but the skill here is golf’ explains Shaun.

For more information and eligibity requirements contact Shaun Hope on shope@hartlepoolfe.ac.uk.

Summer 2011

Rugby Legend supports HCFE Rory Underwood MBE, England International Rugby legend, is the Honourary President of the HSA. During its launch he said “No sporting person can be their best and reach the top without the help of a team. Not just the type of team that plays alongside them, because many sports are competed by individuals; I mean the team that is working in the background, on the coaching and training, the fitness and planning. I can’t stress enough the importance of the support and guidance such a team offers when it comes to aspiring and achieving. I believe Hartlepool Sporting Association is exactly this kind of team.”

Hartlepool College has an excellent reputation for sports coaching and fitness. Now it has dedicated facilities to match.

Hartlepool Sporting Association Hartlepool Sporting Association is an ambitious partnership of organisations and clubs dedicated to promoting sport and health, bringing together the talent of today and nurturing the talent of tomorrow.

Founded in 2009, the initial partners were Hartlepool College of Further Education, Hartlepool Rovers (Rugby) Football Club, Hartlepool Heat Basketball Club, Hartlepool Cricket Club, Oaksway Netball Club, Hartlepool Table Tennis Club and St. Francis 2000 Football Club. These were later joined by Hartlepool Wadokai and Hartlepool Sportability, with other clubs currently in discussion for potential membership.

The HSA is a project that aims to combine the three components of education, health and sport to produce benefits to the town’s people. This combined approach will help clubs develop in terms of quality of performance, coaching, facilities and equipment as well as increasing the quantity of players at all levels.

From the Archives For many years the College had its own gym, and offered fitness classes to the public. When it was demolished for the new build, over three tons of Spandex was recovered.

Using Hartlepool College’s expertise, opportunities will be created for member clubs to educate themselves in a number of disciplines, including first aid, coach development and fitness training. Members will be offered support and guidance as they grow and improve.

For more information or detailing on applying, contact Shaun Hope by emailing shope@hartlepoolfe.ac.uk or visiting www.hartlepoolsport.com 25

College life

Meet the Team (well, some of it!)

Jeff Hedley

Born and raised in Hartlepool some 54 years ago, Jeff still lives locally. He started his career with a local construction company at 18 eventually coming to work for Miller some 10 years ago. During his time with the local company he attended the old college for a year before moving on to a polytechnic.

As a young boy Jeff can remember the old college being built and he feels it is milestone in his life to be involved with the construction of it’s replacement. It makes not only Jeff but also his family extremely proud to be involved with what they feel is a major part of the regeneration of the centre of the town.

Nigel Fishburn

Nigel is the Senior Quantity Surveyor for Miller Construction on the new College build. He says he has gained immense pleasure over the past 3 years working closely with the staff of Hartlepool College of Further Education ensuring that we have squeezed every drop of value possible out of the budget.

This close working relationship has allowed Miller to ensure a world class training facility the town of Hartlepool.

Nigel recently competed in the Marathon des Sables whilst employed on this project, taking the Colleges new logo to the Sahara desert.

Andrew Rapmund

Andrew grew up in South Africa and has been living in the UK for the past 10 years. He enjoys the challenge of working on large and complex schemes, and believes that promoting teamwork and an enjoyable work environment is the key in the success of any scheme.

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A Real Team Effort Hartlepool College is the result of a pooling of many talents - not only those of the College in defining the specification, but in the architects who designed it, and the construction company behind the amazing process of putting it all together.

The new College would not have been possible without the skill, expertise and dedication of our key partners. Bond Bryan were the architects and the Sheffield-based company managed to design the stylish and contemporary building we have today fully incorporating the College’s design principles. Miller Construction, which helped the College’s last big building project in 1993, ensured the building was built in accordance with the design specification. AA Projects, with offices nationwide and with a reputation of managing large scale public and private sector projects, ensured the new College was built in time and on budget. Truly, a team effort.

Andrew Rapmund, Project Manager, was keen to emphasise the role played by every person who worked on the College, from the architects and builders to the apprentices, contractors and every other aspect of getting the building ready for use. ‘The key for success in any major development is true partnership and teamwork. Hartlepool College of Further Education and the Project Team have achieved this by having the same goal in mind - to produce a centre of vocational excellence for students and staff of the College to be proud of.

The professionalism and commitment demonstrated by the Project Team has been exceptional. They have also been a pleasure to work with’.

Piece by Piece Lasting 18 months, the building of the new College was a masterclass in construction and organisation at every stage. Here are five of the literally thousands of images recording the process.

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Summer 2011

From the Archives The new building isn’t the first time Miller have worked with the College - the constructed our two new extensions in 1993 (see page 11).

Left to Right: Nigel Fishburn, Andrew Rapmund and Jeff Hedley in the College Atrium

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3

Picture 1, February 2010 One month in and the College workshops and old Council car park have been cleared as the steelwork for the east wing of the College begins to rise.

Picture 2, March 2010 As the steel frame progresses, the skyline of the town begins to permanently change.

Picture 3, August 2010 Seen from Christ Church, the frame complete, the wall panelling and glazing is added.

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5

Picture 4, September 2010 The building is clad with energy efficient materials prior to final rendering.

Picture 5, April 2011 Work steps up on the interior. One of the most delicate and skillful tasks was the installation of the “floating” staircase that forms a major feature of the Reception Atrium (see inside cover).

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College life

A World Class Facility Hartlepool College makes no secret of its commitment to internationalism. With former students working all over the UK and the world, and the disciplines we provide vital to the UK in the world economy, we’re proud to be part of the global community.

The most striking illustration of this is the field of flags outside the main entrance, which will be used as an ever-changing exhibition of the College’s multinational networks.

When the architectural designs for the new College were being produced, the College laid down sixteen “key principles” which must be followed as the building took shape. One of these key principles was that the College building should reflect its international outlook. Although Hartlepool is a small town, it exports an extraordinary amount of skilled labour to the rest of the UK, Europe and indeed the world. Many ex-College students worked to build the Channel Tunnel, the new Wembley Stadium, Heathrow’s Terminal 5, and many are presently working in the Olympic Park.

The College’s curriculum ensures that all students have the chance to broaden their European and world outlooks by 28

taking part in cultural exchanges and work experience abroad. Many of these visits are extended stays: for example, plumbing students completed extended work experience in Lyon - one of the students was even offered the chance to remain behind in a full-time job with his French employer!

The commitment to internationalism also reflects a wider dimension. The College is committed to its “RESPECT” platform, building understanding among cultures and nationalities. Throughout the year the “field of flags” will acknowledge the diversity of the College’s student base, celebrate our partnerships and reflect key dates and events in the College’s “world calendar”.

Summer 2011

Annual Cultural Diversity Day Once a year the College celebrates its ongoing commitment to equality and diversity with a Cultural Diversity Day as part of our RESPECT policy, where students from various faiths and backgrounds can share knowledge and cultural information. The event is always popular and involves guests from the local community and exhibitions and talks by those College students who have been aborad as part of their studies.

Jetsetting Students See the World Hartlepool College has a well-established track record of forming international links, all of which continue to be used to enhance our students’ education and understanding of other cultures. The College’s Aerospace students have been regular visitors to Airbus Industrie in Toulouse and these visits have afforded the students the opportunity to work with one of the world’s most prestigious airline manufacturers. France has also been a destination for some of the College’s Construction students: Brickwork students have worked for organisations in Lille and Plumbers for organisations in Lyon and Albi in the south of the country.

Above: Construction students in China Below: An Airbus A380 under construction at the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France

From the Archives College staff and students often enthusiastically immerse themselves in the culture of the far away places they visit, such as Lecturer Ian McNeil getting in the spirit of things in China.

Construction students have also featured in visits further afield, to Changzhou Institute of Engineering Technology in China. In a similar vein, the College’s Travel and Tourism students have visited Gambia in West Africa.

Sports stadia in both Holland and Spain have been a focus of Sport students’ visits to these countries and, this year, Engineering students visited Spain.

The College is international and outward-facing in our perspective and this focus aims to help our students to find their place in an ever-increasing globalised world of interconnectedness.

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College life

Creative Services College Design Manager and Creative Director, Gary Kester, has filmed and edited over 130 films during his time at the College, as well as producing countless documents and photographs. A graduate of Newcastle Polytechnic (now Northumbria University), Gary came to the College in 1992 after working at a number of design and advertising agencies. When the College started up its Business Development Centre in 1999, Gary’s services were made available to external companies, and his filmmaking skills in particular have proved much in demand.

Whether setting a mood, providing key information or reflecting specific messages and successes, short films add a high quality touch to any occasion or event, or form an impressive part of a marketing or promotional campaign.

Aside from producing materials for itself, Hartlepool College offers a bespoke creative filmmaking service, including conceptualising, writing, filming, editing and post-production for in-event broadcast, DVD or online distribution.

Clients to date have included the NHS, Hartlepool Borough Council, The North East Technology Institute, Hartlepool Business Awards, Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience, Hartlepool Tall Ships 2010, Tees Valley Engineering Partnership, Teesside University, Audit North, Vertellus Specialities, Heerema, the North East Training Provider Network, and the TUC Workers’ Memorial Day. The College also offers graphic design, photography and copywriting services that can provide idea focussed and unique promotional materials, advertising and presentations from an in-house creative team that has decades of combined experience in the creative industries.

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For more information contact hwatts@hartlepoolfe.ac.uk

Our Centre is the Business Hartlepool College’s impressive new Conference Centre combines amazing new facilities with a package of options and services to help businesses and events truly shine.

Hartlepool College’s Business Development Centre and theatre-sized Conference Centre were popular and successful places for businesses to host meetings, training programmes and special events. During early planning stages for its new building, the College seized the opportunity to create a new bespoke resource that would further amplify and enhance our support for business. Highlighting ambience, comfort, flexibility and innovation, the new Conference Centre is custom-designed to meet the demands of businesses of all sizes and areas of operation.

Flooded with natural light from the impressive full-length glazing high above, the new Conference Centre takes up almost the entire lower floor of the College’s canyon-like North Wing.

Every room in the Conference Centre is designed to allow clients the freedom to conduct their business or event with complete confidence, comfort and privacy. Furnished and equipped to the highest standard, these are spaces intended to allow people to excel, innovate, entertain and impress.

The four main Conference Rooms have a combined capacity of almost 500 people, hosting up to 240, 116, 80 and 40 delegates respectively. The largest of these utilises cinema-style tiered seating to allow an unhindered view of a 6m glare-free high definition 1080p screen, accompanied by a 5000w 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound system.

For meetings, a cluster of luxuriously appointed boardrooms are available across the corridor.

Events Beyond Compère Wendy Gibson and Alan Wright, experts in presentation and business partners in SoundsWright for over ten years, have worked with the College on numerous Celebrations of Achievement awards ceremonies and other memorable events.

The world class quality of these productions has brought the highest praise from experts in the field and Hartlepool College and SoundWright are now proud to offer their combined expertise to businesses and events organisers. If you would like to stage your own awards evening, product launch or any other event, this partnership can offer the total solution.

Wendy and Alan have compered a multitude of events, and will be combining their top class experience with the College’s superb facilities, bespoke creative services (see left), technical knowledge, professional quality catering and organisational flair.

For more information on events packages, contact Helen Watts at hwatts@hartlepoolfe.ac.uk

Compère Alan Wright

Summer 2011

Celebrating Achievement In 1994 the College introduced what is now both a tradition and an annual highlight in the College Calendar - the Celebration of Achievement. At face value an awards ceremony, the CoA differs from most similar events by not only awarding winners in a variety of categories, but actively reflecting on the achievements of the entire student population through films, multimedia presentations and guest speakers. Ending the night with a spectacular, student produced buffet doesn’t hurt either!

From the Archives Hartlepool College is the largest supplier of Apprenticeships in the Tees Valley and Durham, with over 500 region-wide.

For an individual an Apprenticeship isn’t just a job, it’s the first step towards a long-term career or career change. Many businesses across Britain have benefited so far from training an apprentice.

As it best suits many of our students, the College has always operated into evenings during term-time. This picture from 1990 shows the original configuration of the entrance, and the large and heat-inefficient windows of the theatre. These would later be made a solid wall when it became the Conference Centre to save energy.

Apprenticeships focus on the whole working spectrum, not just individual skills. Apprentices learn through a combination of ’on and off the job’ education and training. On the job you will work alongside other employees and the rest you learn from us.

For employers, Apprenticeships can make organisations more effective, 31

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