Department Newsletter
Welcome
Greetings from Wakefield College’s Business & Management and Travel & Tourism Department!
We’re excited to share some of the incredible opportunities that come with exploring careers in these dynamic and ever-evolving industries.
At Wakefield College, we believe in learning through experience. Our students have recently worked with organisations like Vico Homes, gaining real-world business skills while contributing to meaningful community projects. Travel & Tourism students have also taken to the skies—literally— experiencing the world of aviation first-hand through sessions in a state-ofthe-art flight simulator.
These kinds of experiences help develop the practical skills, confidence, and industry insight that prepare you for a wide range of future pathways—from the world of work to further study or even launching your own venture.
Whatever your goals may be, exploring business or travel and tourism can open doors to exciting and rewarding possibilities. We’re here to inspire and support you on that journey—wherever it may lead.
Wishing you all the best as you take your next steps!
Henry Manwaring Deputy Head of Business and Travel & Tourism
&
T Level Business Students Making a Difference in the Community
Our T Level Business students have been gaining invaluable hands-on experience while making a real impact in the community, thanks to their placement with Vico Homes (formerly known as WDH).
As part of their Estate Day of Action, students teamed up with the Estates and Environmental teams, local partners and residents to improve the Bryan Close area in Castleford. Activities included a litter pick, bulky waste collection, and an interactive door-to-door survey to gather feedback on what improvements residents would like to see in their neighbourhood.
students’ academic and personal growth—an achievement recognised by the judges of the Educate North Awards 2025, where we were named finalists in the Employer Engagement Award category.
A fantastic example of meaningful collaboration, personal development and community impact in action.
The initiative was a huge success, with one resident moved to tears by the strong sense of community spirit and the collective effort to bring about positive change.
This experience gave our students a unique opportunity to apply their skills in a real-world setting—developing their communication, leadership and problem-solving abilities.
The strength of our T Level partnership with Vico Homes has played a key role in our
“The Estate Day of Action was a fantastic opportunity to connect with our customers in the community and hear what it’s like for them living on our estates. It’s so important for us as a landlord to listen, understand, and act on customer feedback.”
Sarah Roxby Executive Director of Housing
at Vico Homes
Hear from our Students
Business & Management
Meena
“I really like Wakefield College – the students and tutors are friendly and supportive. The classes have a positive atmosphere and the environment makes learning enjoyable. I’ve improved my organisation, confidence and communication skills through tasks like planning and presenting. My tutor also helped me apply for a volunteering role at the RSPCA, where I gained six months of experience and developed my customer service skills. I plan to complete Business Level 1 to 3 along with my GCSE Maths and English, then go on to study Law at university.”
Fun Facts!
A Million-Dollar Mistake:
The Post-it Note was invented by accident! In 1968, Spencer Silver at 3M was trying to create a strong adhesive but ended up with a weak, reusable one. Years later, it became one of 3M’s bestselling products!
Amazon’s Original Name:
Travel & Tourism
Samuel
“Ever since I was young, I’ve always had a passion for travel and aviation, so choosing the Air Cabin Crew course felt very natural to me.
“Being able to train in a simulated aircraft environment gives us a very true to life experience that better prepares us for a future career in this exciting industry.”
Wakefield College Business
Students Explore Big Ideas at
the University of Huddersfield
Our Level 2 Business students recently had the exciting opportunity to visit the University of Huddersfield for its Wellbeing, Economic Growth and Data Analytics event.
During the visit, students took part in a range of engaging sessions exploring important global and regional issues that are shaping the future of business. Topics included climate change, artificial intelligence (AI) and regional economic disparities, giving students valuable insight into how data and innovation influence decision-making in the modern world.
The event provided a fantastic chance for students to experience a university
environment while developing their understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing businesses today.
Before settling on Amazon, Jeff Bezos considered calling his online bookstore “Cadabra”, as in abracadabra. He changed it after a lawyer misheard it as “cadaver”!
The Monopoly Myth:
During the Great Depression, Monopoly became one of the bestselling board games in history. It was even used in World War II to smuggle escape tools to prisoners of war!
Longest Flight in the World:
The world’s longest commercial flight is from Singapore to New York, covering 9,537 miles and taking around 18 hours and 40 minutes—long enough to watch 9 full-length movies!
Experiences like this are a key part of studying
A Hotel in Space?
A company called Orbital Assembly is planning to open the world’s first space hotel by 2027. Guests will experience artificial gravity, luxurious suites, and an out-of-this-world view of Earth!
Travel & Tourism students’ once-in-a-lifetime Fiji trip with Think Pacific
20 students from the Animal Care and Travel & Tourism departments at Wakefield College embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Fiji, hosted by Think Pacific.
The trip’s itinerary was specially tailored to the College’s Animal Care and Travel & Tourism provision – with activities encompassing ecotourism, animal and wildlife care, sustainability and conservation.
During the eighteen days, students and staff from the College explored the magnificent landscapes of the island such as the Rainforest Park, the Sand Dunes National Park, tropical gardens, coral reefs and bush trails.
They observed Fijian animals in their habitats, ranging from birds to reptiles and marine wildlife, as well as learning about the welfare and veterinary care they received from charities on the Island such as Animals Fiji.
Several organisations delivered specialist presentations and projects for the group including the Coral Coast Conservation Centre, teaching them about the historical development of tourism in Fiji and the range of conservation efforts practiced on the Island.
The students expressed their enthusiasm towards experiencing a new culture; some students even conducted their own research into their destination in advance of the trip.
The trip was fully funded for the students through the Turing Scheme – one of the UK Government’s initiatives to provide funding for international learning opportunities and global mobility projects for colleges and universities.
“After developing a relationship with Think Pacific, the College decided to select one of their educational trips to enrich the students’ learning, which has all been made possible through the funding from the Turing Scheme. The trip showcased to the students the opportunities of ecotourism, animal care and sustainability in Fiji. They learned how tourism impacts the Island, its people and its wildlife.”
Henry Manwaring Deputy Head of Curriculum and lead organiser of the trip
Group Secures Number One Spot for FE College Achievement Rates in the Region
The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group has 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.
In addition to this success, the Group also achieved fourth place regionally for Apprenticeship achievement rates, further highlighting its strength across further education and skills training.
The results position the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group and its three colleges – Castleford College, Selby College and Wakefield College - as having the best achievement results of all further education colleges in Yorkshire & the Humber region and being the fifth top-performing further education college in England, reflecting the quality of teaching, support and student outcomes delivered across its campuses and programmes.
The NARTs are key summary indicators of performance in education and training and apprenticeships and demonstrate the percentage of students that were awarded their qualifications. Published annually, the national tables rank over 150 colleges.
I am so proud of this phenomenal accolade. Being ranked first in the region for our 16-18 achievement rates and fifth nationally is something we are incredibly proud of and reflects both the ambition of our students and the quality of education and support across the Group. These results are a true reflection of the dedication and care shown by our staff, who go above and beyond every day to help our learners succeed academically, grow as individuals and move forward with confidence into their next steps.”
Sam Wright Principal and Chief Executive at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group
OPEN EVENTS
OCTOBER 2026
MONDAY 19TH OCTOBER: 5PM-7PM
Castleford College
WEDNESDAY 21ST OCTOBER: 5PM-7PM
Wakefield College
NOVEMBER 2026
SATURDAY 21ST NOVEMBER: 10AM-12PM
Wakefield College and Castleford College
FEBRUARY 2027
WEDNESDAY 10TH FEBRUARY: 5PM-7PM
Wakefield College and Castleford College
Combining Castleford College, Selby College and Wakefield College, the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group saw outstanding pass rates in 2024/2025, with Selby College securing a 99% pass rate across its A Level programmes and Wakefield College a 98%. Castleford College and Wakefield College also achieved an impressive 100% pass rate for their T Level courses.
A significant number of its learners also progressed onto employment or higher education, including Russell Group universities such as the University of Oxford, University of Sheffield, University of Nottingham and many more.
Across its colleges, the Group offers a broad range of 16–18 study programmes, including A Levels, T Levels and vocational and technical courses. It also delivers a wide variety of apprenticeships, designed to reflect local labour market needs and support learners into meaningful careers.
