College Recognised as an Elite Apprenticeship Provider

Here at Hartlepool College of Further Education, we are thrilled to announce that we have been honored as one of England's elite expert apprenticeship providers by the Department for Education. This prestigious recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional programmes and transforming lives.

Setting us apart from our peers, we are proud to be the only college in the North of England to have received an outstanding rating for apprenticeships from Ofsted. This remarkable achievement has been maintained through back-to-back inspections and two different frameworks, making us trailblazers in our field.

Receiving this high praise is a monumental moment for us, and we owe this success to the tireless efforts of our employer partners, the passionate team here at the college, and, of course, our dedicated apprentices. We are thrilled to be labeled as an 'expert apprenticeship provider,' adding another feather to our cap following our outstanding grade from Ofsted.

The Department for Education introduced the prestigious "expert" status to showcase excellence in the apprenticeship sector. We take immense pride in being one of only 13 institutions nationwide to be bestowed with this honor, alongside independent trainers, colleges of further education, and higher education institutions.

Alongside our impressive achievement rates and the excellent feedback we receive from employers, we offer over 70 apprenticeship standards in various sectors such as engineering, construction, health and social care, ICT and digital, and many more. By exceeding industry standards, we play a vital role in succession planning for local businesses.

Our apprenticeship provision is at the heart of our college, and it has consistently produced award-winning talents. We celebrate the achievements of individuals like Sam Casey, an apprentice at Gestamp Tallent and a student here at Hartlepool College, who was awarded the Worshipful Company of Needlemakers Prize for his exceptional talent and hard work in toolmaking. Similarly, Ebony Whittingham, an apprentice at Made by Mariella, achieved the prestigious Regional and National HBA Apprentice of the Year accolades for her outstanding skills in beauty therapy and nail enhancements.

These success stories are a testament to the incredible results our apprentices achieve as they develop both at college and with our employer partners. We are dedicated to producing even more national award-winners in the future.

Apprenticeships hold a special place in our leadership's heart. Our Vice Principal, Gary Riches, himself is a product of our apprenticeship programme, having been an electrical engineering apprentice in the early 2000s. This personal connection fuels his passion to ensure that the next generation of apprentices receives the highest-quality training possible. By working closely with employers and tailoring programmes to meet their needs, we continue to create opportunities for success.

Gary remarked, “This acknowledgement is monumental for the College. Our collaboration with employer partners has always been centred around offering apprenticeship courses that go beyond just skills – they bring tangible changes to workplaces and play a pivotal role in succession planning for local businesses. Being labelled an ‘expert apprenticeship provider’ adds another feather to our cap, especially following our outstanding grade from a recent Ofsted review. This accomplishment stems from the unwavering support of our dedicated employers, the relentless efforts of our apprentices, and the passionate team at Hartlepool College.”