Hopwood Hall switches to Lloyds

SIXTH form college Hopwood Hall has switched its bank from the Co-op to Lloyds.

It said the move followed a £3m loan from Lloyds last year to fund the refurbishment of its Rochdale campus. It also has a site at Middleton.

Principal Derek O’Toole said: “The team at Lloyds have already demonstrated their commitment to helping us to realise our long-term aims for the College’s development and have consistently demonstrated a close understanding of the specific challenges we face in the further education sector.

“Moving our banking facilities to them was a natural progression in our relationship.”

Mike Stevenson, relationship director for Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking in Manchester, East Lancs & East Cheshire, said: “Education is an important sector to the economy as a whole. Our track record and expertise around the banking requirements of further education colleges means that we are well placed to provide valuable funding and support for leading institutions like Hopwood Hall.”

The college has 3,200 full-time and 8,000 part time students, and just under 600 staff.