Harrogate College to change hands as troubled Hull College Group downsizes
Troubled Hull College Group is to offload Harrogate College later this year as part of its five year “restructuring plan”.
Harrogate College, which currently makes up the group along with Goole and Hull College, will join the Leeds City College Group, now be called Luminate Education Group, on August 1, after plans were signed off by the FE Commissioner and ESFA.
The move will mean that the college joins a collective of education providers, which include Leeds City College, Keighley College, Leeds College of Music and the White Rose Academies Trust.
Colin Booth, CEO at Luminate Education Group said: “Welcoming Harrogate College to the group is another step forward and will mean benefits for both students and staff. This news will mean that Luminate Education Group has responsibility for 30,000 students in total, further proving our role in nurturing the skills for the future in Yorkshire, and beyond.”
Michelle Swithenbank, CEO at Hull College Group said: “We are handing over a strong local college which is in good health, to Luminate. We wish Harrogate College every future success.
“We’re focused on growing Hull College and Goole College and continuing to provide the best education and to serve our local communities.”
Kevin Williams, Principal at Harrogate College said: “The college has benefited from the expertise of Hull College Group over a number of years. There is a great opportunity for us in the Luminate Education Group arising from geographic proximity and the opportunity to share best practice. Our recent campus redevelopment, alongside this news, puts us in great shape for the future.”
Hull College Group has hit the headlines recently over its financial troubles. It received the biggest amount in restructuring grants – a total of £34,187,000 – from the ESFA last year to support its ‘fresh start’ arrangement and to help its “significant financial and operational turnaround”.
The college said in its 2016/17 accounts, which were published almost 18 months late, that it had overspent £10m that year, FE Week reported.
Its 2017/18 accounts show a surplus in the year of £22m, which was “in respect of restructuring costs”.
In March last year, the college said 230 jobs were at risk due to the restructure.
