Students Benefit from Industry-Led Renovation

HCFE Staff, Partners and Students at the launch of the BE:One partnership — College Staff, Partners, and Students at the launch of the BE:One partnership earlier this month - Photo: HCFE

We are excited to announce the unveiling of our new state-of-the-art construction workshops. These facilities, transformed from two of our existing classrooms, are designed to inspire our students and prepare them for successful careers in the construction sector.

This remarkable transformation was made possible through our collaboration with the be:ONE partnership, led by Believe Housing. The partnership, which includes contractors Buston & Maughan Group, RE:GEN Group, Sendrig Construction Limited, and Sunter Limited, has brought industry expertise directly into our learning environment.

The be:ONE partnership, launched in April, aims to improve around 5,600 homes by 2028 while focusing on enhancing customer experience, achieving cost savings, and maximizing social value in communities. We're honored to be part of their first significant social value project.

Our new workshops are the result of incredible dedication: partners and suppliers contributed 635 hours of work and donated more than £8,000 worth of materials. The result is a learning space equipped with industry-standard tools and machinery, providing our students with an unparalleled educational experience.

John Cartwright, our Head of Business Growth and Skills, expressed his enthusiasm: "Working with Ruth Dent and the huge team of be:ONE partners has been a brilliant experience for us. We've gained not just brilliant, high-end workshops, but we've also partnered with some of the best industry employers in the region. This will provide rich information from the sector to support the growth of our learners' knowledge, skills, and behaviors."

John Cartwright, Head of Business and Growth, addressing Construction Students at the BE:One Partnership Launch - Photo:HCFE

We're particularly grateful for the support of Ruth Dent, Director of Assets and Compliance at believe housing, who said: "The college does a fantastic job of giving students the skills and knowledge they need to get ready for a career in construction. We wanted to help make its learning spaces even more inspiring, and the be:ONE partners have pulled out all the stops to transform the workshop into the bright, well-equipped facility they deserve."

This project goes beyond just improving our facilities. It strengthens our ties with industry leaders, opening up new opportunities for our students. As John Cartwright noted, "We are very fortunate to be part of this partnership, and close links between all members have already been forged."

The impact on our students is already evident. One of them shared: "I love what they're doing at Hartlepool College. They're giving me a real stepping stone to how it works in the real world when I get a job."

We're excited about the future possibilities this partnership brings. Some of our students may soon be working for believe housing or their construction partners, contributing to home maintenance and improvement, supporting the local economy, and creating jobs.

As an educational institution, we face challenges in creating inspiring environments due to budget constraints. That's why we're deeply appreciative of the generosity of the be:ONE partners and suppliers like Jewson, JTC Kitchens and Brewers Decorating for their material donations.

These new workshops represent more than just an improvement to our facilities. They symbolise the power of collaboration between education and industry, and they will help many young people realize their potential, succeed in our competitive world, and open doors to careers they might have never thought possible. We can't wait for our learners to showcase their new skills in these fantastic facilities and look forward to the bright future this partnership promises.