Local Post 16 Further Education Statutory Providers across
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are set to benefit from more than
£15 million of investment to expand learner places and specialist
training facilities across the region.
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) has
approved a new Skills Capital Programme worth £15.1 million,
bringing together £14.45 million of Department for Education
investment with additional funding from the Combined Authority's
FE Cold Spots programme.
The investment comes as the region prepares for increasing demand
for post-16 education, with the number of 16 to 19-year-olds
expected to continue rising over the coming years.
Funding will support projects that create additional learner
capacity through the refurbishment or reconfiguration of existing
facilities, expansion of teaching and workshop spaces and, where
justified, the development of new learning facilities.
Alongside creating additional post-16 places, the programme will
invest significantly in construction skills training. This will
help colleges expand facilities and specialist provision needed
to train the next generation of skilled workers required to
deliver housing, infrastructure, retrofit and net zero projects
across the region.
Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, , said:
"This is excellent news for young people, families and
employers across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
"We know that demand for college places is growing, and we
want every young person to be able to access high-quality
education and training opportunities close to where they
live.
"The funding will also support the development of vital
construction skills needed to build the homes, infrastructure and
economic growth our region requires. By investing in our skills
infrastructure today, we're helping local people access rewarding
careers and giving employers the workforce they need for the
future."
Andrea Sanders MBE, Assistant Director for Skills and
Employment at the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined
Authority, said:
"Behind every new college place is a young person looking
towards their future, an adult wanting to gain new skills, or an
employer searching for the talent they need to grow. This
investment is about creating more opportunities for local people
to learn, progress and succeed close to home.
"Investing in skills is one of the most effective ways we can
strengthen our communities and our economy. This programme will
help ensure more people, whatever their background or stage of
life, can access the training and opportunities that enable them
to reach their potential."
The programme forms part of a wider long-term strategy to
strengthen skills and infrastructure across Cambridgeshire and
Peterborough, ensuring education and training provision keeps
pace with population growth, employer demand and the region's
economic ambitions.
Successful projects are expected to be approved during 2026 and
early 2027, with delivery beginning in 2027 and new learner
places becoming available from 2028 onwards.
