Hartlepool Borough Council and Hartlepool College of Further Education have launched a major partnership to offer free adult learning opportunities across the borough. The initiative is backed by a £4.5m investment from Tees Valley Combined Authority and runs until the end of July 2027.
The partnership is designed to help residents aged 19 and over gain qualifications and develop skills for employment, career progression or career change. Courses are available as full-time and part-time options, with learning pathways from pre-entry to level 3.
Subjects on offer
The range of courses includes English, maths, digital skills, leadership and management, bricklaying, welding, health and social care, accounting, women's hairdressing, airline cabin crew, personal training and childcare.
Hartlepool College of Further Education works with over 300 employers and is ranked first in the North East for delivering courses aligned to national skills priorities.
Council backing
Councillor Rob Darby, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council's Housing, Growth and Communities Committee, said: "This partnership reflects our shared ambition for Hartlepool residents to have access to the skills, training and support they need to overcome barriers to learning and to thrive."
Alison Hill, Head of Adult Education at Hartlepool College of Further Education, said: "It's an exciting time to be a Hartlepool resident aged 19 or over, with a total of £4.5 million combined through this partnership to support adults in gaining qualifications free of charge."