Group named Technical Vocational Excellence Hub for Yorkshire and Humber

The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, comprising of Castleford College, Selby College and Wakefield College, has been chosen to lead technical education excellence across the Yorkshire and Humber region.

The Group is set to play a leading role in shaping vocational and technical skills across the region after being named the area's Technical and Vocational Excellence (TVE) Hub by the Association of Colleges (AoC).

The prestigious appointment puts the College Group at the centre of a major national programme designed to support teachers, lecturers and education leaders as new technical and vocational qualifications are introduced across England.

As one of only nine TVE Hubs nationwide, the Group will help drive improvements in technical education across the region, working closely with schools, colleges, training providers, employers and industry partners to ensure learners develop the skills local businesses need now and in the future.

The hubs form a key part of the Technical and Vocational Professional Development Programme (TVPD), funded by the Department for Education and delivered by the AoC. The programme is being designed by the sector for the sector, and it will help educators prepare for the continued expansion of T Levels, the introduction of new V Levels and revised Level 2 qualifications, ensuring students benefit from high-quality pathways that reflect the latest industry standards and workforce requirements.

Andrea Quantrill, Director of Quality and Innovation at Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, said: “Being selected to lead the Technical and Vocational Excellence Hub is both a privilege and an opportunity to bring together the incredible expertise that exists across Yorkshire and Humber. At the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, our people are at the heart of everything we do, and we know that investing in educators is one of the most powerful ways to improve outcomes for learners. We are excited to work alongside providers, employers, awarding organisations and sector specialists to co-design high-quality professional development, develop subject-specific expertise and support the successful delivery of T Levels, V Levels and Level 2 pathways. Through collaboration, learning lead networks and the sharing of effective practice, we look forward to building regional capacity, strengthening technical education and helping ensure every learner benefits from industry-relevant learning that prepares them for future success.”

Through its new role, the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group will lead collaboration across the region, sharing expertise and best practice whilst helping to strengthen links between education providers and employers.

The appointment recognises its longstanding commitment to technical and vocational education and its track record of working with employers to equip learners with the skills needed for successful careers.

Alongside being the TVE Hub, earlier this year the Group was also selected as one of only three of the UK’s Digital Insight Hubs – recognising the Group as one of the pioneering institutions for digital transformation in the further education sector. The Group has been selected alongside the two original hubs to continue its great work this year ahead, alongside two newly appointed hubs: Harlow College in the South and Newcastle College Group (NCG) in the North East.

The Digital Insight Hubs form part of an Association of Colleges and Ufi VocTec Trust partnership which aims to improve accessibility to technology and promote digital skills within teaching and learning environments in the FE sector.

The Group has already hosted its first Insight Event which invited a range of Further Education Colleges to Wakefield College campus to discuss digital transformation within the sector.

Sam Wright, Principal and CEO at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, said: "We are delighted to have been selected as one of just nine TVPD Hubs from 56 applications nationwide. This is a fantastic achievement and a real testament to the expertise, commitment and inclusive approach of colleagues across our Group. We have extensive experience of working with employers, local authorities and regional partners to co-design and deliver programmes that meet skills needs, from Skills Bootcamps and T Levels to wider workforce development initiatives and have also recently been named one of just three Association of Colleges Digital Insights Hubs in the country. We are excited to build on this experience through the TVPD Hub, working with partners across Yorkshire and the Humber to share best practice, support educators and help ensure learners benefit from outstanding technical and vocational education."

Earlier this year, the Group ranked first in Yorkshire & the Humber for student achievement amongst General Further Education Colleges, also securing fifth place nationally. This highly impressive result follows a strong performance across the Group’s 16–18 provision, with the latest Department for Education National Achievement Rate Tables (NARTs) for 2024/2025 confirming the Group as the region’s highest-performing FE college for learners aged under 19.

You can find out more about the Group and its Colleges on its website at: https://www.heartofyorkshire.ac.uk/

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