Funding booster for FE colleges

FOUR North West further educational colleges have won Government funding to help them upgrade their facilities.

Hopwood Hall, Trafford and Salford City colleges in Greater Manchester and Myerscough College near Preston, will receive in total just over £6m towards projects worth £18.4m.

In total 21 colleges throughout the country will invest £168m in building modern facilities thanks to the Government investment. Many of these new projects are for skills training in sectors vital for growing British industry including engineering, construction and automotive.

The Government said it is targeting those in the greatest need of help and those that can best support growth by investing £77.7m through the Skills Funding Agency. This will be matched with more than a £91.1m investment from colleges.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “There is a longstanding backlog in college building and refitting. We are investing to address this. These colleges will be able to provide good teaching facilities in all parts of the country, helping us to build the skills base across the country.”

Skills minister Matthew Hancock added: “To grow British industry and compete in the global race we need our colleges to produce highly skilled engineers, designers, mechanics and builders.”

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