Our partnership with Airedale General Hospital has played a key role in our health and social care courses, allowing apprentices, vocational students and supported interns to enter the important industry feeling job-ready.

Over the years, we’ve successfully hosted assessment centres for these apprenticeships and have worked together to design apprenticeship vacancies for individuals who are new to healthcare.

Even better, we regularly collaborate on workforce planning across the district to ensure the NHS can meet future staffing needs and have even connected with the Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust to share best practices. 

Here are a few success stories that we’re proud of from the last eight years of this partnership.

Launching our first apprenticeship placement

In 2017, a group of healthcare apprentices began the first ever Keighley College placement with Airedale NHS Foundation Trust. The students spent 12 months working across clinical areas and delivering care to patients alongside experienced staff.

The opportunity arose from a partnership agreement between the Trust and Keighley College, which recognised the importance of practical experience alongside classroom learning in developing the next generation of healthcare staff. 

Ian Hargreaves, Assistant Director at the Trust and a former Keighley College governor, said: “We are delighted to have recruited our first group of apprentice healthcare workers and are overwhelmed by their enthusiasm and desire to care for our patients.”

Teaching real skills with supported internships

In September 2018, we launched a supported internship programme with just four students, placing them in Airedale hospital departments such as administration, laundry services, sterile services, estates and mobility services.

Two of these interns successfully secured permanent roles in administration and sterile services – and continue to work there today.

Siddeqa, who has worked in the Administration department since 2019, says: “When I first started I was nervous, but excited to learn new skills. I experienced what it’s like to work in a real work environment. I love my job at Airedale General Hospital and without the support of Keighley College and staff at the hospital, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Supported internships are work-based study programmes, combined with an education, health and care plan, for students aged 16-24 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). These unpaid work placements help these students – who wouldn’t ordinarily encounter such opportunities – to learn real skills for future employment.

The college also holds an annual Supported Internship Information Event, where senior management at Airedale hospital have the opportunity to engage with new interns, parents and members of our Careers team.

Our ongoing partnership with the hospital has ensured a growing range of supported internship placements each year, tailored to students’ interests and aspirations. 

Answering the call during Covid-19

A few years later, Holly Greenhalgh’s apprenticeship at Keighley College required her to meet the rising demands the pandemic placed on the healthcare system, earning her an ‘Employee of the Month’ award for the excellent personal care and emotional support she provided Airedale General Hospital’s Covid-19 ward.

Holly credited her apprenticeship with offering her a ‘real opportunity to make a difference within the community’ and relayed how working in a real work environment even bolstered her academic work.

“When I started my apprenticeship, I struggled with dyslexia and the college team was incredibly supportive in identifying useful resources to aid my academic work. 

“Since enrolling, my confidence has sky-rocketed and I have even completed an additional Level 3 research task on dementia. I hope the findings from my research will enable me to supply the best care possible on the ward.”

Treating the future: nurturing talent in healthcare

While studying for her Level 1 qualification in 2022-23, Health & Social Care student, Keira Brookes, worked as a healthcare support worker on Airedale General Hospital’s Elderly Medical Ward, caring for around 21 patients.

Her work placement provided support to the wider team when providing individual patient care and assistance during mealtimes. These experiences provided Keira with first-hand insight into the daily management and running of a busy ward. 

Keria says her experiences opened her eyes to the varied support healthcare workers must provide patients and their relatives, which includes end of life and palliative care support. 

“During these sad times, I learnt how to be there for the patients and their families by doing the last offices after a patient has passed away”, she says. “Getting to know the relatives is just as important in a healthcare support role and something as simple as providing an update on how the patient has been doing can make a crucial difference.”

Ward Manager, Lara Clarkson, noted Keira’s excellent communication skills, especially when liaising with all members of the multidisciplinary team to promote and ensure patients receive a holistic approach to care. 

Keira was grateful to the staff she worked with, who were on hand to offer advice and answer her questions, and says this helped her gain so much confidence.

Since her placement, Kiera has carried out work experience with Bradford Royal Infirmary, completed a Level 3 diploma and started a nursing degree at university.

Practical skills that give back to the community

In recent years, the work experience our students do with Airedale General Hospital has also taken on a more indirect approach to supporting healthcare outcomes. Earlier this year, electrical students, Mohammad Ali and Mohammad Yousaf, began industry placements with the Robertsons Group, where they teamed up with construction engineering company, NG Bailey, to learn how to build and set up hospital wards. 

As a token of our appreciation for both the hospital and the NHS, last year Keighley College students created ‘pocket heart’ gifts for staff, patients and their families in Airedale hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU). 

Laura Hepworth, Community Fundraiser at the ICU said: “We are so happy for the kind donation from Keighley College. The talented students have made some beautiful hearts in lovely bright fabric that the patients will love. Thank you so much.”

With so many impactful stories and experiences in recent years, we can’t wait to see more students developing their practical skills and experience to support the area’s healthcare services over the coming years.

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.

‘A huge achievement!’.

That is how one of our apprentice welders, Harry Pullan, has described reaching the finals of a national skills competition.

The 23 year old is one of just ten welding apprentices from across the country who will battle it out in the ultimate stage of WorldSkills UK this winter.

Harry, who is working for Keighley firm Byworth Boilers, earned his place after impressing the judges in the regional heats in July.

A morale-boosting confirmation

He said: “It feels unreal to have reached the final, but I am glad to see my efforts pay off! I love my job and to be part of the final ten in this competition just lets me know I’m in the right place.

“The qualifiers were a good experience because I met some lads from another company and was able to find out a bit about their work, and learn about a few different machines.

“Working as an apprentice has provided me with the best of both worlds because I get all the practical, on-the-job learning and then at college I learn all the technical knowledge and get my qualifications.”

Harry’s welding journey began when he was 19. He started his apprenticeship working for a firm that makes scaffolding towers and stillages, before moving to Byworth Boilers last summer.

Outstanding support

He said: “My knowledge and skills have increased so much since joining Byworth, and Keighley College is the reason I ended up there – and in the WorldSkills competition. I can’t say enough good things about the college; I owe a huge thanks to my tutor, Adam Sutcliffe, and my assessor, Ash Fieldsend, for their support.”

Tutor Adam encouraged Harry to push on in the competition when he had doubts. He said: “Harry is a top student, and has been since he started as a level 2 apprentice.

“He’s keen in the classroom and wants to learn and, practically speaking, he just loves to weld – and he’s very good at it.

“He is a cracking lad and is a pleasure to have in the group. We are all chuffed for him, and I think he will do well come finals day.”

Looking ahead to a bright future

Harry will be one of more than 400 students and apprentices – competing in 51 skills ranging from digital construction to health and social care – taking part in the WorldSkills UK finals in November.

He added: “All I can do in the final is focus, work and get my tasks done. If I get a podium finish then I’ll be over the moon, but even if I place last I’ll be happy because to be in the top ten is already a huge achievement for me.

“As for the future, I’ll have to wait and see because I am very happy at Byworth but, at the same time, I would love to weld all over the world.”

The WorldSkills UK finals will be held at colleges, independent training providers and universities across Greater Manchester from November 14 – 17.

Engineer Alex Johnson is starting the new year in a role she loves and with a management degree apprenticeship in her sights.

Alex is a quality engineer at Baildon-based Produmax where she has been working – through an apprenticeship with the college – for several years.

She has just gained a distinction in her Level 4 apprenticeship in Manufacturing Engineering with the firm, which specialises in high precision engineering for the aerospace sector.

Urged on by our teachers and Produmax’s team to keep pushing herself, Alex is now looking forward to starting a Level 6 Chartered Management degree apprenticeship through the University of Leeds.

She said: “I started on a Level 3 Manufacturing apprenticeship, having found the quality engineer role, and developed my interest in the inspection side of engineering, through Produmax’s work experience programme.

A terrific experience, with no limits to what can be achieved

“I’d encourage anyone to do an apprenticeship – it’s a fantastic way to start a career in any industry, whilst having the ability to continue studying. There are also no limitations to what you can achieve, it’s down to how much work you’re willing to put in.  

“My apprenticeship has been a terrific experience. I’ve been encouraged along the way by the team at Produmax and at Keighley College to work hard and aim high.

“I’m looking forward to continuing my workplace development whilst undertaking the degree apprenticeship.”

Produmax offers several apprenticeship engineering positions, usually starting at the end of August, each year.

Find out more about our apprenticeships at the college here. 

Our Principal has been putting a shift in on the factory floor at Acorn Stairlifts.

Kevin O’Hare visited the Steeton business to find out how a group of students from the college, who are on two-days-a-week supported internships with the firm, were getting on.

Kevin had been invited by the students themselves. He said: “I was asking them about their work at Acorn. They said it was great and that I should come along and ‘do some real work’ too!”

The college’s partnership with Acorn has been running for three years now, and four previous interns have gone on to secure jobs with the company. The current group of four students – Jason Baxter, James Littlewood, Jordan Lindley and Kenny Greenwood – work at Steeton on Thursdays and Fridays, supervised by Acorn staff and their own mentor, Fran Day.

A mutually beneficial partnership

Fran said: “All the supported interns have Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), which means they need a little more support initially, until they find their feet.

“I’m here to supervise them at first, then gradually pull back so they can work independently. They learn about productivity and work ethic, but really they just want to work.”

Ryan Baron, Production Manager at Acorn’s Steeton factory, said: “The supported interns are brilliant, they’re hard working and have fitted in really well. The work they do – assembling components for our stairlift rails – is work that our guys would actually be doing on the line.

“We move it off the line until they get the hang of it, but they still have to meet demand for the components and they don’t let us down. The work they’re doing helps them to gain skills and experience and helps us too, so the partnership with the college benefits us both.”

A brilliant opportunity to gain valuable life skills

Kevin, speaking during his visit, added: “It’s a brilliant opportunity for the students to understand what life’s like in a working environment, seeing the different processes and how the workplace is structured, from the reception, the canteen, right through to the factory floor.

“It’s a valuable experience, and we often forget how important that is. The work is important, but the context of the work is too. It’s what I call residual learning – it’s about social interaction, navigation, orientation, timekeeping.

“It’s not on any curriculum or part of any course programme, but these are valuable life skills we all need to acquire.”

Acorn Stairlifts, which has factories in Yorkshire and Scotland, is a world leader in the manufacture, installation and innovation of stairlifts.

Though its headquarters are in Steeton the company, which produces 70,000 staircases a year, has sales and service staff across the UK.

Keighley residents have celebrated completing a project to get back into education or work.

We have been working with local community centres and other partners to ‘provide pathways’ into employment, as part of the Community Led Local Development (CLLD) programme.

Of the 214 adults who have taken part so far, 110 have progressed into education – on courses ranging from English and maths, to teaching assistant and English for Speakers of Other Languages. Another 14, meanwhile, have gained work. 

To celebrate those achievements, the college presented certificates to nearly 40 women who have taken part at the Bangladeshi Community Association on Wednesday 23 November.

‘I feel much more confident in my abilities’

Shazia Hussain, who is studying towards gaining a teaching assistant qualification, said: “I have previously tried three different college classes and not gone back after the first lesson.

“This time, however, I have not only felt motivated to complete the course and progress, but I am also helping other students with their assignments. I feel much more confident in my abilities thanks to the project.”

Melissa Ciplinski also credits the programme with bolstering  her self-belief. She said: “I have always struggled with anxiety and the teaching assistant course has helped me to gain confidence.

“I now attend the classes without feeling vulnerable and nervous, and am looking forward to progressing onto the next course.”

Working together to make a positive difference

Mashuk Miah, who manages the Bangladeshi Community Association, said: “The CLLD project has enabled women to come out of isolation and helped them mix with others whilst learning maths, English, sewing or exercise. I know that our partnership with Keighley College will continue, and that together we are making a positive difference to the lives of those in our community.”

Our Deputy Head for Adult and Community, Jo Rusden, added: “We were delighted to celebrate the achievements of these learners with the association, which has been one of our key partners.

“This programme has already helped hundreds of Keighley residents take a step towards getting back into education or work, and we look forward to welcoming more moving forward.

“These are tough times for everyone just now, but especially those in households with low or no income. This programme is all about giving people the help, and skills they need, to take a step on the path towards employment and a rewarding future.”