Sixteen colleges to receive funding to transform facilities

Sixteen colleges across England have been successful in their bids for a share of the government’s £1.5 billion FE Capital Transformation Fund.

The fund was first launched in September 2020 by the Prime Minister to rebuild and transform college estates and create modern, fit-for-purpose spaces that meet the needs of students and the communities they serve.

The first phase of the fund was launched in September 2020, with an initial £200 million allocated to all colleges so they could undertake immediate remedial work to refurbish their buildings.

Following this, in January 2021, a second phase was launched where all colleges were invited to bid for additional funding to help upgrade their campuses. Bids are now being considered by Department for Education (DfE) with funding expected to be awarded this Autumn.

This third and final phase will involve the DfE working in partnership with the 16 colleges announced today to fund projects that will ensure they are excellent places to learn, and so more people can gain the skills that they need to secure great jobs.

The 16 colleges to benefit from third phase of the FE Capital Transformation Fund are as follows:
    •    Beacon Centre, Blackburn College;
    •    Lansdowne Site, Bournemouth & Poole College;
    •    Brooksby Melton College, SMB Group;
    •    Ashington Campus, Education Partnership North East (Northumberland College);
    •    St Austell Campus, Cornwall College;
    •    Houghall Campus, East Durham College;
    •    Rochdale site, Hopwood Hall College;
    •    Isle of Wight College;
    •    Great Yarmouth Campus, East Coast College;
    •    Stafford site, Newcastle & Stafford College Group;
    •    North Lindsey College, DN College Group;
    •    Merrist Wood College, Activate Learning;
    •    Strode College;
    •    Parsons Walk, Wigan & Leigh College;
    •    Yeovil College;
    •    Stanmore College.