College leaders from the United Kingdom have come together to urge the Prime Minister to provide more cash for the sector in the UK Government’s upcoming spending review.
The first-of-its-kind letter has been sent to Sir Keir Starmer urging him to “take bold action to ensure our colleges have the resources they need to thrive”.
It has been sent from the Association of Colleges, ColegauCymru/Colleges Wales, Colleges Scotland and the further education colleges in Northern Ireland.
David Hughes, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges said:
"The decisions taken in the Spending Review will have a massive impact on the prospects of our young people and the opportunities adults will have to train and learn new skills. Investing in colleges is vital if the government is serious about delivering on its missions – growth, opportunity, clean energy, a better NHS and safer streets.
“Colleges are the heartbeat of our communities, the foundation of our economy, and the key to unlocking the potential of every individual and kickstarting the economy.
“I am proud that college leaders from across the four nations have united today to urge the Prime Minister to recognise this and take bold action to ensure our colleges have the resources they need to thrive.”
Dr Graeme Jackson, interim CEO of Colleges Scotland, said:
“Scotland’s colleges provide both further and higher education, and are vital to delivering economic growth and opportunity, not just in Scotland but across the UK and internationally. Scotland’s colleges are training talented people for key sectors which are important to the whole of the UK, including energy, construction, and digital, helping to lift people out of poverty and supporting communities.
“While most funding comes from the Scottish Government, the Prime Minister must also back Scotland’s colleges if UK wide goals are to be met. With the right investment, colleges can do even more to build a stronger, fairer economy.”
Mel Higgins, Chair of the College Principals’ Group in Northern Ireland said:
“Our Colleges play a vital role in society, both in supporting economic growth and tackling social exclusion aligned to the Executive’s Programme for Government priorities and to the Economy Minister’s economic priorities.
“The agility of our sector means we can stay ahead of the curve when it comes to anticipating skills needs and we work effectively with employers and industry leaders to shape a skilled workforce that can meet their needs.
“Therefore, investment in our further education colleges will not only support young people in obtaining qualifications and skills, but will also support life-long learning, something we know is equally as important with the emergence of key growth sectors in Northern Ireland like the digital technology sector, creative industries and advanced manufacturing. An investment in our further education colleges is an investment in our society as a whole.”
Lisa Thomas, ColegauCymru Chair, and Chief Executive and Principal of The College Merthyr Tydfil said:
“This powerful joint statement reflects the strength of feeling right across the UK that investment in further education must be a top priority for the Prime Minister. Colleges in Wales are experiencing acute financial pressures.
“Additional, sustained investment is critical to enable colleges to deliver the skills needed for key industries, support our learners, and for communities to prosper. We urge the UK Government to equip the devolved administrations with the funding they need to ensure colleges can play their full part in building a stronger, fairer, greener economy.”