- Next phase of government’s £1.5 billion FE Capital
Transformation Fund gets underway, to upgrade and refurbish
college estates so more people can gain the skills that they need
to secure great jobs
- Under this phase the government will work in partnership with
16 colleges identified as some of the most in need of
improvements, so they are excellent places to learn
- Significant investment forms part of government plans to
revolutionise further education, level up opportunities for more
people across the country
Sixteen colleges across England are set to be the next to benefit
from the
government’s £1.5 billion FE Capital Transformation Fund,
Apprenticeships and Skills Minister announced today (8 April).
The fund was first launched
in September 2020 by the Prime Minister to rebuild and
transform college estates and create modern, fit-for-purpose
spaces that meet the needs of students and the communities they
serve.
The first phase of fund was launched in September 2020, and saw
an initial £200 million allocated to all colleges so they could
undertake immediate remedial work to refurbish buildings.
Following this, in January
2021, a second phase was launched where all colleges were
invited to bid for additional funding to help upgrade their
campuses. Bids are now being considered by Department for
Education (DfE) with funding expected to be awarded this Autumn.
This third and final phase will involve the DfE working in
partnership with the 16 colleges announced today to fund projects
that will ensure they are excellent places to learn and so more
people can gain the skills that they need to secure great jobs.
Apprenticeships and Skills Minister said:
“It is fantastic news that we are launching the next phase of
this transformation programme, working with a small number of
colleges that are some of the most in need of support to upgrade
and revitalise their estates.
“As we recover from the pandemic, it is vital our colleges
continue to be great places to learn with excellent facilities.
“Our priority is making sure every student receives high quality
education and training, no matter where they live, so they can
gain the skills they need to progress into work and help the
economy to rebuild and grow.”
This significant investment forms part of the government’s
landmark reforms - through the Skills for
Jobs White Paper – that will transform further and technical
education and deliver the skilled workforce employers and the
economy need, helping to level up skills and opportunities for
more people across the country.
The reforms build on the action already underway to transform the
post-16 landscape. This includes rolling out T Level
qualifications, establishing a network of Institutes of
Technology, and through the new Lifetime Skills Guarantee making
sure everyone, no matter where they live or their background, can
gain the skills they need to progress in work at any stage of
their lives.
Notes to Editors
The list of colleges are as follows:
- Beacon Centre, Blackburn College;
- Lansdowne Site, Bournemouth & Poole College;
- Brooksby Melton College, SMB Group;
- Ashington Campus, Education Partnership North East
(Northumberland College);
- St Austell Campus, Cornwall College;
- Houghall Campus, East Durham College;
- Rochdale site, Hopwood Hall College;
- Isle of Wight College;
- Great Yarmouth Campus, East Coast College;
- Stafford site, Newcastle & Stafford College Group;
- North Lindsey College, DN College Group;
- Merrist Wood College, Activate Learning;
- Strode College;
- Parsons Walk, Wigan & Leigh College;
- Yeovil College;
- Stanmore College.
