Local colleges to get Government boost

Colleges across Greater Manchester are set to receive new funding to fix a shortage in college places for students.

The £20 million boost will be spread between Greater Manchester and Leeds, and will allow colleges to afford to take on more students.

The announcement comes as the Department for Education also revealed even more funding for colleges across England, with over £302 million to be put towards improving and repairing buildings across the country.

According to the Government, the £302 million boost will be the first time colleges will be allowed to choose how the money is spent.

They said the decision came after extensive feedback from education workers across the country, and that they trusted colleges to know their own priorities and needs when it came to repairing their buildings.

The Department for Education’s Jacqui Smith was optimistic for both sets of funding.

“Further education colleges are at the heart of our mission to grow the economy and train the next generation of skilled workers under our Plan for Change,” she said.

“The college estate we inherited is simply not fit for purpose. Today’s funding addresses these issues, allowing colleges to focus on what they do best: breaking down barriers to opportunity and inspiring the workforce of the future.”