When Roger Page was last at the college The Beatles were just a fledgling band trying to make a name for themselves.

A lot has changed since his 15 year old self began a Junior Engineers course here in 1960, and Roger has gone on to have a long and distinguished career in the aviation industry.

He has provided the engineering and technical expertise to support the establishment of three major airlines, restructured five others and held senior positions with many more.

Now 80, he decided to visit us recently to share his remarkable story with our current crop of engineering apprentices and students.

Revisiting great college memories

He was welcomed by Principal Kevin O’Hare, engineering course leaders and apprenticeship assessors, who showed him around our facilities.

Roger said: “I contacted Kevin to see if I could visit the college, at the good age of 80, to rekindle memories of what I consider a great period of my life.

“I have been lucky and have had what I would consider an interesting life, more in reality a vocation. And  I wanted to introduce myself as a person who was not an exceptional student by any means.

“The facilities at the college today are very much in accord with the expectations of what is now needed to promote the skills of young people.

“In my day, when it was Keighley Technical College and School of Art, it was also good for its time. We also used the Mechanics’ Institute for additional lessons such as photography and vehicle technology, as well as metal work.”

Inspiring the next generation

Roger, who secured an apprenticeship at Rolls Royce Aero Engine Division Barnoldswick after his year in Keighley, enjoyed speaking to some of our engineering apprentices who are working with local firms.

Principal Kevin said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Roger, who has gone on to have such an illustrious career since studying at the college all those years ago, and show him around our engineering facilities.

“It was truly inspirational for our engineering apprentices and students to meet him and hear about his success, which shows just what is possible.

“Roger has done some amazing things in engineering, particularly in connection with SpiceJet India, so to hear from someone who has ‘walked the walk’ was really something special.

“Such visits play a key role in motivating our learners and we would be delighted to welcome him back any time.”

As an Airline Facilitator in technical support and engineering, Roger racked up a long list of impressive achievements over his career and travelled to 85 countries. Reflecting on his role, he said: “It was all about creating teams, setting up processes, and procedures, acquiring staff and aircraft.”

It’s been quite a year for Business Administration apprentice Sam Holder.

Sam joined Silsden-based EthOss Regeneration as an office administrator in 2024, at the age of 16.

He has flourished in the role over the past 12 months – and earlier this year won one apprenticeship award while being shortlisted for another.

Deserved recognition

Sam said: “It was a great feeling to win the National Apprenticeship Week Luminate* Awards Team Work category, and to then hear that I had also been nominated for a West Yorkshire Apprenticeship Award was incredibly rewarding.

“It felt like I was being recognised for the hard work I had put into my education and my role in the workplace.”

That hard work was also recognised by EthOss, which specialises in dental implants and bone grafting, in its message of congratulations to Sam. It said: “Sam works hard every day to complete orders and is learning the essential skills needed to run effective warehouse operations.

“Not only that, but he has also expressed a desire to learn more about the business including the finance and marketing functions, whilst also reigniting the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) team. He brings a daily dose of enthusiasm to the office – and we couldn’t be prouder.”

A breadth of learning across the business

Sam, now 17, will have his final apprenticeship assessment on 1 July. Reflecting on the variety of work he has experienced at EthOss, he said: “I love my role. Every day is varied and I have the opportunity to learn across multiple departments and specialties.

“One day I am taking care of warehouse tasks, the next I could be looking into month end sale trackers or  supporting the marketing team with website analytics.

“It’s nice to not be placed into one department – I have the freedom to explore areas that could influence my future career.”

Unlocking doors for the future

Sam is now weighing up his next steps but is certain that his decision to go down the apprenticeship route has paid off.

He said: “I would love to progress my education further and I am actually considering higher education, specialising in one of the areas that I have been introduced to in the workplace.

“I am currently still in a position of exploring my options and where I would like my career to go – but the great thing about this apprenticeship is that so many doors are open to me now.

“I would definitely recommend the apprenticeship route to others, it gives you the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in various areas of a business and allows you to build up a network of people to help you along the way.”

*Keighley College is one of the members of Luminate Education Group.

Local businesses and dignitaries have turned out in force to help us toast our 200th anniversary.

The college, which began as Keighley Mechanics’ Institute on February 14, 1825 is holding events throughout the year to mark the occasion.

In February we hosted our big celebratory meal for current and former members of staff, students, business partners and civic dignitaries.

The guests included the Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Beverley Mullaney, Keighley Town Mayor Councillor Gulfraz Hussain, and Bradford Council leader Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe.

They were entertained by student Leonardo Balaz who played piano throughout the evening, while attendees shared memories and left messages of congratulations.

A distinguished past, an exciting future

Cllr Hussain summed up the mood on the night. He said: “I would like to say ‘happy birthday’ to Keighley College! It’s a great honour for me to be here to celebrate.”

Reflecting on a memorable evening, Principal Kevin O’Hare said: “We’ve come such a long way since starting, as Keighley Mechanics’ Institute back on Valentine’s Day, 1825 – so it was fantastic to mark the college’s anniversary in style with friends past and present.

“I really enjoyed welcoming, and chatting to, so many of our industry partners along with former members of staff and alumni. The fact they made time to come along and help us celebrate this historic milestone 

“Our commitment to helping the community and its businesses prosper is as strong as ever going forward, and we’re looking forward to welcoming the first students into our new Engineering hub, as well as holding more anniversary activities, later this year.”

Warm words for a proud training legacy

Representatives from some of the district’s key manufacturers, including Acorn Stairlifts, Fives Landis, Spooners, Byworth Boilers, Airedale Springs and Expressed Steel Panels, attended the anniversary meal.

Many have had strong links with us that stretch back years. In the case of Fives Landis, that relationship has included many of its senior leadership team being trained there.

Speaking before the meal, HSE & Training manager John Harrison said: “Keighley College was integral to training future engineers for what was then Landis Lund Ltd.

“While apprentices once had to travel elsewhere for training, we’ve now returned to our roots, with Keighley College as our main apprenticeship provider.”

Shaping careers and inspiring change

Mechanical Engineering Administrator Amanda Dowden credits the college with giving her the confidence to succeed in a male-dominated field.

Amanda, who started as an apprentice at Fives Landis in 1978, said: “Studying at Keighley College has shaped my career, and it helped give me the confidence to do something I enjoyed in an area that was not seen as something a woman would do in those days.

“The college has been an integral part of training future engineers. I hope it continues for another 200 years, inspiring generations to come.”

Guests from the wider community who attended included Bradford Council leader Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, headteachers from many local schools, Chair of Keighley Towns Fund, Tim Rogers and Gemma Hobbs, Bradford 2025’s Community Connector for Keighley and Ilkley.

Building work on our brand-new manufacturing and engineering hub has been completed.

The project is part of the wider, £12 million creation of Providence Park, a new industrial site being built on the corner of Dalton Lane and Bradford Road.

Providence Park is being part-funded, to the tune of £6.5 million, through the Government’s Keighley Towns Fund – and £3 million of that was used to produce Keighley College Engineering Hub.

The facility has been designed to take the training of local apprentices and students to the next level, so it can meet the rapidly evolving skills needs of local employers.

We are now busy kitting out the building with cutting-edge equipment – including a future technologies lab and engineering workshop – ahead of welcoming the first students in September.

Building on the district’s proud heritage

Principal Kevin O’Hare said: “This is a major milestone for the college, Providence Park and Keighley – and could be a real game-changer for our district and its economy.

“We are privileged to be based in an industrial heartland that continues to build on its proud history, with many of our employers forging ahead into exciting new areas of manufacturing, engineering and technology, including robotics.

“For those businesses to flourish, though, they need a steady stream of apprentices and students who have industry experience and the up-to-date skills needed to join and strengthen their workforce.

“That’s exactly what the engineering hub has been created to help us deliver – and we’ll be strengthening our already deep bonds with the district’s businesses as we develop our offering there, and work together on apprenticeships along with industry placements for our vocational students.

“We can’t wait to show employers, and our learners, around these cutting-edge new facilities which we are delighted to be opening this year, as the college celebrates its 200th anniversary.”

Employment and skills boost

Bradford Council’s Lead Member for Regeneration, Transport and Planning, Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, was keen to point out the wider benefits.

He said: “Alongside the new state-of-the-art manufacturing and engineering hub, Providence Place is also home to five new buildings housing 23 industrial units. We expect about 100 jobs will be created in total across the whole site.

“Keighley has always had a proud manufacturing and engineering heritage. Its Engineering Hub will enable local people to learn highly-specialised skills and create employment opportunities for the future.”

An incredible opportunity

Keighley Towns Fund Chair, Tim Rogers added: “The creation of the Engineering Hub, in partnership with Keighley College, represents an incredible skills and training opportunity for the town.

“We are proud of what is being achieved at Providence Park, which is a really exciting commercial development for Keighley, and the opportunities it will create for generations to come.”

The hub will be able to train up to 120 students or apprentices, plus staff, at any one time. The building’s lower floor will include a fully kitted-out engineering workshop, complete with lathes and milling machines.

The upper level, meanwhile, will have a future technologies lab fitted out with a laser cutter, printing machines and testing equipment, along with two IT rooms and a teaching space.

Subhan Mahmood has had more reason than most to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week 2025.

The 19 year old has landed a full-time position with Acorn Stairlifts after impressing the Steeton business during his time there as one of our apprentices.

Subhan began his training with the stairlift manufacturer’s customer services team in August, 2023 and made an impact thanks to his enthusiasm, hard work and desire to learn new skills.

Those qualities convinced the business to offer him a permanent role, and Subhan – who previously worked in a fast-food restaurant – couldn’t be happier.

‘I’m on my way!’

He said: “It feels fantastic. I think my hard work has really paid off and I’m well on my way to achieving my goal of becoming a service engineer for Acorn.

“In customer service, I talk to customers on the phone, helping them if they have any problems with their stairlift, and book services for them.

“I had a good experience on my apprenticeship course. Every Monday I had sessions with my tutor, Sarah Barwell, who really helped me with my coursework. And my team leaders at college were very supportive if I needed extra help.

“I would recommend doing an apprenticeship to others. I have gained so much customer service experience through my apprenticeship, placement, and coursework and I’m comfortable now talking to different customers in a good manner.”

A reward for commitment and a positive attitude

Subhan’s Team Leader at Acorn Stairlifts, Bethany Berry, said: “The apprentices we take on from the college are always hard-working and add value to our business, but Subhan stood out.

“He showed that he was willing to try hard throughout his apprenticeship, and was always happy to take part in any training offered to help him gain further knowledge of Acorn and our stairlifts.

“He has also been working hard on improving his customer service soft skills, and as a result has one of our highest inbound call numbers.

“Subhan has aspirations of becoming a service engineer at Acorn, so we will help in every way that we can with that – at the moment he is working in our customer services faults team to build up his knowledge of the product.”

‘A brilliant option’ – apprenticeships unlock careers

Our college, which is preparing to open a dedicated new Engineering hub, has a longstanding working relationship with Acorn Stairlifts and regularly places apprentices, plus supported interns, with the firm.

Head of Stakeholder Engagement and Growth, Clare Fitzgerald, said: “We are delighted to see Subhan land this position which could be his first step into a rewarding career.

“It is through our partnerships with prestigious local firms like Acorn Stairlifts that we secure quality placements for our apprentices and students that lead to opportunities like this.

“Apprenticeships are a brilliant option for anyone who wants to earn while they learn and gain a quick route into their chosen career path, as Subhan’s story – which we’re proud to share during National Apprenticeship Week – demonstrates.”

National Apprenticeship Week, which this year runs from Monday 10 to Sunday 16 February, is a  week-long annual celebration that highlights the benefits of apprenticeships for individuals, businesses and the economy.

A group of our apprentices have just taken up positions at GP practices across West and North Yorkshire.

The move represents an exciting new stage in the college’s relationship with healthcare provider Modality Partnership.

Ten of our students will be putting their Level 3 Business Administration skills to good use at Modality-run GP surgeries in Keighley, Haworth, Crosshills, Skipton and more.

A great step into the world of work

Our Head of Business Engagement and Growth, Clare Fitzgerald, said: “We pride ourselves on working closely with the local community and respected organisations like Modality.

“This is a great opportunity for our apprentices to gain some invaluable, early real-world experience at a variety of GP surgeries in and around the district.”

Modality has previously teamed up with the college for a number of community health initiatives, including vaccination and health check clinics that were held on the campus. Speakers from the company have also given talks to our health and social care students as well as Access to Higher Education learners and staff.

An investment in young people

GP partner and Modality AWC Medical Director, Debbie Livesey, said: “It is fantastic to have ten apprentices from Keighley College with us this year and we look forward to helping them develop their careers in the health and care sector.

“We want to invest in local young people, give them the opportunity to build a career in Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven, and to inspire the next generation of healthcare employees.”

The local media has been shining a spotlight on one of our many successful apprentices!

In a new article, the Keighley News describes how Sam Holder has taken up a position with Silsden-based dental firm, EthOss Regeneration.

Sam, one of our Level 3 Business Administration apprentices, has joined the business – which is an innovator in dental implant and bone grafting solutions – as an office administrator.

An amazing experience

The 16 year old is loving the experience, which he describes as ‘amazing from day one’, and would urge anyone else considering an apprenticeship to ‘go for it’.

EthOss Regeneration’s managing director Peter Wheeler, meanwhile, is a strong supporter of apprenticeships and says the company is thrilled to have Sam on board, and to see what he goes on to do.

Sam’s work so far has included learning all about the customer ordering process and teamwork, and he hopes to use the knowledge and skills he picks up to progress to higher level qualifications in the future.

Our Business Engagement Advisor, Saffron Kahn, says the placement with EthOss Regeneration is testament to Sam’s drive and determination.

A brilliant way to learn new skills

Thanking the company for its continued support, she added: “Apprenticeships are a brilliant way for individuals to learn new skills through hands-on experience in the workplace, combined with further training to support development and progression.”

The college currently has more than 400 apprentices pursuing training in everything from engineering to childcare.

You can read more about Sam’s story (which also appeared in the Telegraph & Argus) in the Keighley News, here.

Principal Kevin O’Hare and Head of Construction and Building Services, Greg Bourke, explain why experienced tradespeople can make the difference

Our town and district has a proud history of being a centre for skilled trades.

It is also well positioned, through initiatives like the Manufacturing, Engineering and Future Technologies Hub we will open later this year, to build on that reputation.

But exciting schemes like this, vital as they are, and all the theoretical knowledge we can communicate in the classroom are only half the story. While there’s no doubt that advances in AI and immersive technologies like virtual reality (VR) have improved our ability to teach practical subjects, students also need to hear from, and see, actual humans who can share their lived experience.

The need for industry-experienced teachers

West Yorkshire is currently suffering due to a scarcity of these kinds of teachers who have a wealth of industry expertise just waiting to be passed on. That, in turn, is hampering the work our college and other education and training providers are doing, not least through apprenticeships, to address the skills gaps holding our economy back.

Those gaps are real and, particularly in certain sectors, severe. The UK Trade Skills Index 2023 flagged up that the UK will need 937,000 new recruits in trades and construction, where vacancies are currently at record highs, over the next 10 years.

That makes the effort we put into creating a pipeline of newly skilled tradespeople to replace those who are retiring all the more important. Demand to study these subjects is actually high but our ability to train is being hindered because there aren’t enough teachers with the required industry experience.

This shortage could well lead to a decline in the number of apprentices entering these trades and, ultimately, translate into a shortage of qualified tradespeople.

A time for action

Our top priority has to be the recruitment of key further education staff, with suitable industry experience, to support and drive training. A collaborative approach involving closer working relationships with the sector is crucial to achieve this.

We are proud to have already developed a strong partnership with the local engineering and manufacturing industry, and enjoy fruitful partnerships with firms like Ex-Pressed Steel Panels, Teconnex, Produmax, Byworth Boilers and Acorn Stairlifts. To solve this teaching crisis, we need to build on that while forging similar bonds with electrical and construction service businesses.

How you can help the next generation

A major part of the challenge is to convince tradespeople that they actually have something to offer in the educational space. Many don’t necessarily see themselves as educators and, while wanting to help, perhaps feel they lack the expertise or confidence to teach – especially if they had negative experiences at school.

If that sounds like you then we have a very simple message: it doesn’t matter to us what your O Levels or GCSEs were, we just need individuals who feel they can give something back, engage with young people and communicate the things they’ve learnt from doing their everyday jobs. It’s about making it understandable to the young people who come to us and, in turn, our students have so much respect for those who have ‘walked the walk’.

The time to act is now and here at college we’ll be doing just that on Tuesday 14 May, when we’ll be inviting electricians and plumbers to pop in, see what we do, and find out about getting involved in the wonderfully rewarding world of teaching. To find out more about our Brew and Trades Chat visit https://bit.ly/4blnNTb .

One of our apprentices is celebrating being crowned the winner of a national skills competition.

Harry Pullan, who works for Byworth Boilers, triumphed at the finals of WorldSkills UK.

The 23 year old was one of just ten welding apprentices from around the country who made it through, after excelling in the regional heats, to the event’s ultimate stage.

Speaking after outperforming his competitors to win the gold medal, he said: “All I can say is that it’s been unreal to be able to compete, let alone win!

“I never thought I’d be quite good enough, but the support I received from college, work, family and friends has helped massively and I cannot say ‘thank you’ enough.

“I’m very grateful for everyone around me, and work has been great – my boss and managers were congratulating me all morning when I got back.”

A deserved win – and a proud day

Harry’s tutor, Adam Sutcliffe, was instrumental in giving him the self-belief to enter the competition.

He said: “Harry is a cracking lad who fully deserves the win, and anything that might come as a result!

“He has worked hard ever since he started his apprenticeship with us just over four years ago and myself and his previous tutors, Ash and Simon, are really chuffed for him.

“For a kid who is fairly quiet – and at one point, during the training for the previous round, told me he ‘wasn’t good enough’ –  to settle into it, work hard and go on to win the title says so much about his attitude. He should be immensely proud of himself.

“It is moments like this that make the job worthwhile – seeing your students develop and achieve. This is a proud moment for Keighley College!”

Harry, who is in the final year of his apprenticeship, took part in the national finals of WorldSkills UK 2023 between November 14-17.

More than 400 of the country’s best apprentices and students competed – demonstrating their expertise across a whole range of industry skills – at educational venues across Greater Manchester.