The college has existed in several forms since 1849, but occupied its now familiar location on Stockton Street in the early 1960s.

In 2006 plans were made to replace the college building with a modern, purpose-built campus with dedicated specialist areas in Engineering, Aerospace, Automotive, Environmental Technologies, Construction, Hospitality and Catering, Health and Beauty, Sport and many others.

Resources to be found in the new college include an aircraft hangar containing two ex-RAF Jet Provost T5s, a Westland Gazelle Helicopter and a Rolls-Royce airliner engine, an 800m square open-air "Learning Terrace" for environmental technologies, a dedicated Sixth Form Centre, a sports science laboratory and CryoSpa, a large conference centre, a restaurant (The Flagship) and the Luminary Suite, a centre containing health, hair and beauty salons and a fully equipped fitness suite.

Many of the college's facilities are available commercially to the public, and open extended hours and weekends.

The college is the largest provider of apprenticeships in the Tees Valley, and has contact with over 2,000 businesses and employers.