Join our online business sub-group meeting on 20 January 2026 at 1pm and continue building a movement that strengthens both our workforce and our community
Register for online event on Eventcube now
Thank you to everyone who attended our successful Launch Event and subsequent meeting in October 2025. As we move into 2026 and the next phase for our business sub-group, we're excited to invite more local organisations to participate in this important movement. We are moving the next meeting to MS Teams to reduce barriers for participation as much as possible.
We are continuing to expand our community-wide literacy initiative, inviting businesses to join this transformational movement led by Hartlepool College's Principal, Darren Hankey, as we develop our community and local workforce through three key areas of literacy:
Public Confidence Building
Our group aims to track and improve self-reported literacy confidence across Hartlepool through surveys and other methods of engagement
Educational Outcomes
We aim to improve literacy performance at every level – from Key Stage 1 and 2 results through GCSE performance and post-16 achievements
Business Engagement
We're building a network of local employers committed to supporting literacy development both within their organisations and throughout the community
Why Literacy Matters Now More Than Ever
Hartlepool is experiencing unprecedented regeneration, with £140 million being invested in our town's physical infrastructure. This represents the most rapid transformation our community has seen in generations. However, bricks and mortar alone won't secure our future prosperity – we need to ensure that our residents have the skills and confidence to seize every opportunity this regeneration brings.
More than a third of adults in Hartlepool have very low levels of literacy, drastically affecting their life chances and those of their families. Literacy improvements deliver a wide range of benefits including:
Workplace Impact: Reduction of communication barriers leads to enhanced productivity
Enhanced career progression for employees: Strong literacy supports a wide range of other professional skills
Community Connection: Better literacy creates more opportunities for connection between community members, strengthening social cohesion
By supporting businesses to identify and resource staff development needs, participate in community literacy programmes and initiatives, improve accessible communications, and share knowledge and best practice across our network, the Hartlepool Literacy Taskforce is focused on creating a stronger, more confident workforce and community.
Join us on 20 January 2026 at 1pm for our next meeting hosted online on MS Teams - register on Eventcube now.
For more information about the Taskforce, contact literacy.taskforce@hartlepool.gov.uk.
