Welcome to Orchard Training Solutions

The One-Stop-Training-Shop

Orchard Training Solutions is the Employer Engagement Arm of Hopwood Hall College. We are here to facilitate any training needs you might have - from individual apprenticeships to fully bespoke training solutions for a whole workforce - we are a one-stop-shop for all your training needs. We can to help you with all your training requirements, with a high standard of competitive service.

Why Choose Orchard Training Solutions?

We really are a one-stop-training-shop and our objective is simple; to help you make money, save money and further develop your customer service experience so that your business can grow from strength to strength.

We offer every kind of training you might need, including apprenticeships, bespoke training solutions and whole workforce training initiatives.

We provide a high standard of service which lets you retain control throughout the training process. Responsive and flexible, we can adapt our methods to suit your specific workforce and can work with you at the time and place most convenient to you.

Proud Partnerships

Without setting restrictions such as age or sector, we are able to adapt to the differing specifications of any organisation. We have developed strong links with other trusted training teams and can strive together to provide any type of tuition required for your purposes. By working with our associates in this way we can provide a comprehensive service, which prevents you needing to look anywhere else.

Value for Money

We offer value for money through a range of different funding streams such as Train to Gain, we can afford to be competitive without compromising on quality. Our existing training programmes can be adapted to suit your company’s requirements, or you can contact us to discuss individually created bespoke training solutions.

Leading Edge Training

As the needs of industry and commerce become ever more demanding and technical; you can rest assured that we have the specialist knowledge to bring your workforce up to world class standards.

Orchard Skills Centre official opening

Orchard Skills Centre on Drake Street, Rochdale was officially opened on 23rd February, with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting by the Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor Keith Swift and Ms Sue Etchells.

Orchard Training Solutions; Hopwood Hall College’s Employer Engagement Arm developed the skills centre after the government launched the Response to Redundancy (R2R) initiative in mid 2009. The aim of the project is to help individuals who are unemployed or at risk of redundancy and make training available so they can broaden their skill range and increase their employability.

The College’s Vice-Principal for Finance & Corporate Services, John Spindler, and the College’s Vice-Principal for Skills, Dr O J Rahim, members of the College executive, local government representatives, partners, tutors and students attended.

The opening provided an opportunity for the many organisations who work with the skills centre to meet and celebrate the successes that the project has enjoyed so far.

Jane McAuley, R2R Project Co-ordinator said: “In just a short space of time since the skills centre opened in early November, we’ve already had learners who have completed training courses, secured job interviews and accepted job offers. In an area of high unemployment like Rochdale, this is a fantastic achievement.”

Siobhan Probert of Syke, a former hairdresser, had been unemployed for several months when she called in to the skills centre to enquire about the training opportunities available. Siobhan said: “The staff at the skills centre were friendly and really helpful. I wanted to get into office work and they put me on the office skills course followed by basic and intermediate IT. I got help updating my CV and was back in employment within 2 months of contacting them. I’d recommend anyone who is in my situation to contact the skills centre.”