MK College Group has been awarded a grant of more than £3 million to construct new buildings on its Chaffron Way campus.
The money will be spent on extending, refurbishing and repurposing college buildings for the Engineering and Construction departments to help expand with the growth of the city.
The funding has come from the government’s new Post-16 Capacity Fund.
By 2024 it’s predicted that there will be 700 more young people finishing their GCSEs than today. It’s also evidence of the Group’s increasing popularity among students, growing numbers of whom are now opting for Further Education rather than sixth form.
More and more are being attracted by the career opportunities on offer from T-Levels, apprenticeships and the highly prized digital courses taught at the South Central Institute of Technology.
Liana Sinclair is the Group Head of Estates and she says, “The success of this bid is a real vote of confidence in Milton Keynes College Group by the Department for Education as by no means every college around the country that applied has been awarded the money they wanted.
"In recent years we’ve had to limit the number of students we can accept onto Engineering & Construction courses because of the sheer lack of space in our classrooms and our workshops with their industry standard equipment.
"What’s more, the refurbished buildings will be developed to very high standards in terms of their sustainability and will be on a par with the top 25% of such premises in the country. In the longer term the availability of increased workshop space will enable Milton Keynes College Group to develop a new curriculum which develops and adapts skills with an environmental and sustainability focus.”
Local MP's have also been celebrating the winning bid.
Ben Everitt, the MP for Milton Keynes North, said: “I am delighted Milton Keynes College is receiving a portion of this £83 million which will help boost their capacity to continue their brilliant work providing skills to young people in Milton Keynes.
“I know Julie Mills and the team at MK College are working hard with businesses and with schools to ensure they’re delivering the best possible outcome for students so we can plug the skills gap in the market and they’re doing a fantastic job.”
Iain Stewart, the MP for Milton Keynes South, commented: “While talent is spread evenly across the country, opportunity is not. And admissions should not be limited by the size of classrooms, but by the calibre of students and applicants.
“That is why I am grateful for the Conservative Government’s support for Milton Keynes College from their investment of £83 million in extra teaching space for students across England.
“By boosting teaching space, we can increase the number of students able to continue with their education or receive the skills they need to fulfil their potential as we build back better.”
Skills Minister Alex Burghart added: “Every young person should have the opportunity to gain the skills they need to reach their goals and go on to have successful careers.
“This investment will boost capacity so we can make sure there is a place for every 16 to 19-year-old, giving them access to the high-quality learning facilities they need to succeed.”
