FE college groups across England will receive a share of £302 million to fix, maintain and improve their buildings
Under the UK Government’s Plan for Change, FE (further education) colleges will receive £302m to fix leaky roofs, broken windows, and dilapidated buildings. The funding, which the Chancellor originally announced in the October budget, is the first condition allocation for FE colleges in two years, highlighting the government’s investment in future generations and their education.
Supporting FE colleges to attract and retain learners
The funding marks the first time FE colleges have discretion and flexibility to decide how the funding is spent. The UK Government opted for providers to determine their priorities to improve the condition and prevent the deterioration of their estate.
Furthermore, the £302m investment will place FE colleges competitively, to ensure they can attract and retain learners, consequently boosting the economy.
Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said: “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.
“But the college estate we inherited is 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.”
£20m funding boost to increase capacity
The government has also announced that FE colleges in Greater Manchester and Leeds will benefit from a £20m boost to increase capacity for 16 to 19 year olds, ensuring more learners can gain crucial skills. For example, Calderdale College in West Yorkshire will use capital funding to expand its construction and professional trades workshops.
This investment aligns with the Chancellor’s announcement of £100 million to establish 10 new Technical Excellence Colleges, further boosting capacity in the construction sector. It is part of a broader £625 million initiative to train up to 60,000 more engineers, electricians, and builders by 2029.
Andrew Harrison, Vice Principal for Corporate Services at Calderdale College, said: “We welcome this investment from the government’s Autumn budget, which will enable us to further enhance the experience for our students. This follows the success of our recent £7.5 million transformation project, completed in August 2024, which focused on refurbishing our ageing estate.
“As well as modernising our facilities, the project significantly improved our energy efficiency, cutting costs by 40% and making a significant step forward in our carbon reduction edits.”
Improving post-16 education for all
The government has placed importance on improving post-16 education in England and giving more young people the opportunity to further education. Recently, changes to the English and math requirements meant that up to 10,000 more apprentices will qualify each year in key sectors, and new, shorter apprenticeships will be available. Furthermore, changes to end-point assessments will make it easier for businesses and providers to support people in the workforce.
