Keighley College has received a new piece of artwork courtesy of street artist Dave Bonzai, as part of BD:Walls, a Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture programme.

Onsite painting was carried out over just a few days, but the overall project – including design development, planning and technical preparation – took several weeks to complete.

The Keighley mural is among a collection of permanent artworks commissioned across the district through BD:Walls, with new pieces also appearing in Bradford city centre and surrounding neighbourhoods. Bonzai’s approach was deliberately chosen to resonate with students and signal Keighley’s ongoing regeneration, rather than focusing on a purely heritage-based design.

The mural now serves as a live learning resource for students – particularly those studying creative arts, construction and design – and is already contributing to wider conversations about identity and regeneration in the town.

Keighley College principal Kevin O’Hare said:

“The mural has transformed our college facade into something far bigger than decoration. It has become a landmark – one that speaks directly to Keighley’s past, present and future.

“Keighley is a town with a rich industrial and cultural heritage. We rightly take pride in that history, but pride should never tip into nostalgia alone. Towns that thrive are those that remember where they came from while being brave enough to signal where they’re going. This mural does exactly that.

“Research into public art consistently shows that artworks which invite interpretation, rather than dictate meaning, create stronger emotional connections and a greater sense of ownership among communities. This mural asks you to pause, look again, and decide what it means to you.

“The lettering appears to sit proud of the wall, like liquid mercury poured and frozen mid-flow. Mercury is an apt metaphor for Keighley itself – reflective, adaptive, sometimes volatile, always in motion.

“We’re delighted to have been able to offer our wall for this project. Not because it makes our building more eye-catching, but because it aligns with our wider mission – to open doors, reflect the communities we serve, and help shape a confident, creative future for the town.”

Keighley College staff, partners and apprentices celebrated the official opening of the new Technical Engineering Centre (TEC), a purpose-built hub designed to train the next generation of engineers and manufacturers.

Located within the £12 million Providence Park industrial development and supported by over £3 million of government funding through the Keighley Towns Fund, the centre represents a major investment in Keighley’s infrastructure and people.

Designed in close consultation with local employers, the centre will enable up to 120 learners to develop the high-level technical skills needed across Yorkshire’s growing engineering and manufacturing sectors.

The centre officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by Michael Parkinson OBE. After this, local employers, including one of the building’s sponsors, Tecconex, were invited to tour the new facility and meet with engineering apprentices, who demonstrated the cutting-edge equipment now available to Keighley college learners. The visit showcased how the centre is already connecting industry and education to address regional skills needs.

Kelly McAllister, Director of Apprenticeships at Luminate Education Group, said: “We know from recent government announcements that there will be more focus on driving technical excellence; areas like this are vital in giving us the capacity to develop the workforce of the future.”

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.

We’ve embraced some cutting-edge technology to help us train students in one of the most traditional of trades – welding.

Our virtual welder machine helps new learners get used to welding techniques, risk-free and without the need for protective gear, before they try the real thing.

Teachers are also finding that the equipment, which gives users a score based on their performance, is a useful way of adding some lighthearted competition to classes.

And, by saving on materials, it offers sustainability benefits too.

A valuable teaching tool

Welding and Fabrication Course Leader, Simon Davison (pictured), said: “The Lincoln Electric Vrtex 360 virtual welder we use is pretty good for developing initial hand – eye coordination, and for practising travel speed, angle and torch distance away from the weld.

“The visuals are good, the sound is realistic and the choice of different work zones is cool.

“We can operate virtually in a typical welding bay, a large top-end auto shop, a military desert base or even a nuclear power plant. All the scenes and backdrops simulate real working environments.”

Adding fun and a hazard-free experience

The equipment, purchased a few years ago with government Levelling Up funding, is also a useful aid for logging students’ efforts and ranking them according to factors like travel speed, angle, and weld quality.

Each user is given a score and can replay a recording of their welding work to see what they did well, and where they could improve.

Simon said: “Overall it is a very good piece of kit and adds fun and provides a hands-on experience whilst eliminating all of the potential hazards or dangers of real welding.”

The human factor

As great as the virtual reality (VR) machine is though, particularly for beginner welders, it does have its limitations.

Simon said: “It is a good ice breaker and is popular with brand new welding students but once they get a taste for real welding there is no substitute for the real thing, as the temperature whilst welding cannot be simulated.

“And a real welding machine will always operate even when your parameters and settings are incorrect, though you’ll get a few weld defects or sparks. With the VR machine, unless you have set it up by the book, it will not work whatsoever so setting it up can be quite tricky.

“Other than that, it’s a great way to save money on metal and a good way to establish a positive relationship, with a fun competitive element, in class.”

A video of Simon demonstrating the virtual welder in action can be viewed here.

‘Proud and independent!’

That is how Dylan Worsnop is feeling after landing a full-time job with Acorn Stairlifts.

Dylan shone during his supported internship with the Steeton-based manufacturer, which has now taken him on as a Production Operative.

He relished the practical side of his internship and is delighted it has now led to a permanent position.

He said: “I really enjoyed being at work much better than the academic part of the course. I have a full-time job now so I would definitely recommend doing a supported internship!”

A fruitful partnership

We have been teaming up with Acorn Stairlifts on our supported internships for a number of years. These are work-based study programmes for 16-24 year olds with additional needs who have an Education, Health and Care plan.

By working with our industry partners closely we give our interns opportunities to gain valuable skills, experience and qualifications ‘on-the-job’ – often leading to paid employment.

This benefits the employers as well as the students, as Acorn Stairlifts’ Production Manager, Ryan Baron, explains. He said: “We get to see what the interns are like at work so we know they will be good workers.

“Dylan has been a great addition to the team. He’s performed really well and has a really good attitude and work ethic; he’s polite, a quick learner and is hard working with a great personality.

“He has picked up and learnt new tasks quickly, is good at hitting targets which keeps the factory flowing, and his timekeeping is excellent.”

Just rewards for outstanding commitment

Our Deputy Head of High Needs and SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), Emma Rich, added: “We are incredibly proud to see Dylan reach this significant milestone. He has shown unwavering dedication and hard work, even through the holidays, and his determination has been recognised.

“We are thrilled that he has been offered a full-time role with Acorn Stairlifts. This achievement is a testament to his commitment and passion.

“Here’s to the power of supported internships and the incredible opportunities they create!”

We are pleased to share that we have been rated ‘Good’ with ‘Outstanding’ features following our recent Ofsted inspection. 

Our dedicated and highly skilled staff, along with our strong collaboration with regional stakeholders, were praised for designing education programmes that align with local employment needs.

We are especially proud of the report’s strong endorsement of our mission and positive influence within the college.

“Learners with high needs successfully develop the knowledge and skills that they need for adulthood and to lead more independent lives. Adult learners benefit from access to a wide range of courses that meet their learning needs and the needs of local employers and the communities in which they live.”

This recognition highlights our commitment to delivering consistently high-quality, inclusive education that transforms lives and enriches the communities we serve.

For more details, visit Ofsted to read the full report.