A COLLEGE has been named the number one apprenticeship provider in the North-East and among the top ten nationally, according to the latest Government rankings.

The National Achievement Rate table place education providers using indicators of performance in apprenticeships and education and training.

The new figures put the Hartlepool College of Further Education in the top spot for all General Further Education Colleges in the North-East. It is the seventh year the college has maintained its position in the top ten nationally.

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.”

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 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.

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

Employers can find out more about apprenticeships by emailing gary.riches@hartlepoolfe.ac.uk