Northumberland College is proud to announce that its construction and engineering centre at the new Ashington Campus will be named The Hope Building, in honour of highly respected local industry leader Jeff Hope, when it opens in 2026.
The naming was formally unveiled at a ceremonial steel signing event attended by AkzoNobel Manufacturing Director Jeff, Education Partnership North East Chief Executive Ellen Thinnesen and representatives from Northumberland College, marking a major milestone in the trailblazing campus’ development.
A proud Northumbrian, Jeff is a passionate advocate for education, and a long-standing supporter of the Ashington community.
Raised in a local farming family, he began his educational journey at Northumberland College’s current Ashington Campus, where he studied Civil Engineering, Architecture and Surveying. He later went on to complete a degree in Surveying and Mapping Science at Newcastle University.
His career began at sea as a navigator on marine exploration vessels, followed by more than a decade at Alcan’s Lynemouth aluminium smelter, where he progressed to Plant Manager.
In 2013, he was approached by AkzoNobel to lead the design and build of its new manufacturing facility in Ashington, where he became Head of Manufacturing. The site which is designed to be the most advanced and sustainable manufacturing facility produces famous brands like Dulux, Dulux Trade and Cuprinol. Under his leadership, the site introduced cutting-edge technologies, created hundreds of new jobs and developed a strong ethos which continues to shape the former mining town’s economic future.
Jeff is also a founding member of the Ashington Town Board, a Trustee at the Northumberland Church of England Academy Trust, and former Chair of Governors at Education Partnership North East, which includes Northumberland College.
His commitment to changemaking education and local development has inspired countless initiatives, including the AkzoNobel Ashington apprenticeship programme co-developed with Northumberland College which has seen dozens of completers offered permanent roles with the global manufacturer and is now a model for industry-led training. Jeff is also very passionate about working with local Special Educational Needs providers in South East Northumberland and promotes work experience at the site for people with additional needs and challenges.
Speaking after the announcement, Jeff said: “It’s honestly hard to put into words — I’ve never experienced anything quite like this before, and I feel immensely proud.
“This new campus represents a once-in-a-generation investment, and opportunities like this don’t come around often. When I think back to my own time at college and then look at what’s now possible for young people in Ashington, it truly feels transformational — a game-changer for our community.
“Seeing this level of investment in our town means so much. There’s a real sense of positivity surrounding this development, and genuine potential for growth across Northumberland. The new Ashington Campus gives us something we all need — hope, belief, and a shared sense of pride for the future.”
The Hope Building – an industry-standard immersive learning environment – will form part of Northumberland College’s groundbreaking new Ashington Campus, a transformational development that will revolutionise the education and skills landscape in the Northeast and beyond.
Supported by the Department for Education and based at Advance Northumberland’s Wansbeck Business Park, the campus will offer state-of-the-art facilities aligned to key priority areas and deliver outstanding technical and academic qualifications to thousands of learners.
The campus will have three specialist buildings – The Hope Building, an Academic and Technical ‘Heart of the Campus’ and a Student Life Centre.
Programmes will include routes for 16-19-year-olds through A-Levels and T Levels, as well as apprenticeships, courses for adult learners, specialist SEND provision and a range of degrees and higher-level study.
Ellen Thinnesen, added: “It is a privilege to be here today alongside Jeff for the steel signing. This moment is particularly special because of Jeff’s deep-rooted connection to Ashington—having been born and raised here, and as a former student of Northumberland College.
“Since I’ve been in post, Jeff has consistently gone above and beyond — not only in working closely with the college to shape the future skills agenda, but also through his support and commitment to the development of this project.
“Jeff dedicates so much of his time, energy, and heart to Ashington and the wider North East. His passion for this region and its people is truly inspiring—and it’s that passion that continues to drive real change.”
To find out more about the new Ashington Campus, click here.
We are the largest further education provider in Northumberland with campuses throughout the county.
Our student transport scheme is available for eligible students to make getting to and from college as easy as possible.
Our extensive re-development programme will create outstanding new facilities.
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